Background: Patients with acute liver failure (ALF) show an aggravated hyperdynamic circulation. We evaluated potential changes in systemic hemodynamics and improved kidney function induced by the molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) in a group of patients with primary nonfunction (PNF).
Patients and methods: In the intensive care unit we treated 18 patients with PNF (6 females and 12 males) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) of overall mean age 47.8 years (range, 28-60 years). Continuous MARS treatment was performed on all patients with a kit change every 8 hours during a mean of 10 days (range, 1-20 days). Double-lumen catheter type veno-venous access was used for the blood supply. The blood flow rate was 150 to 250 mL/min, depending on the hemodynamic situation of the patient. Blood passed through an albumin nonpermeable, high flux dialysis membrane. During MARS treatment we monitored the hemodynamic condition, using a series of parameters: heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), and pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI) before (baseline value) as well as after 1 hour (T1), 3 hours (T2), and the end of treatment (T3).
Results: There was a progressive decrease in positive inotropic support (dobutamine, norepinephrine) and significant improvement in hemodynamic parameters, such as MAP (P< .01), PVRI/SVRI/V(mean) (P< .002), and KARI (P< .01). The improved kidney functions were shown by significant improvements in serum creatinine (P< .03), urea (P< .02), and urine volume (P< .005). Eleven patients were alive: 6 with OLT and 5 without OLT. Seven patients died: 4 after OLT and 3 before OLT due to multiorgan failure.
Conclusions: The MARS device significantly improved the hemodynamic parameters and kidney function that also determine patient survival in ALF (61.1%) with PNF while awaiting retransplantation presumably by removal of certain vasoactive substances.