Objective: To establish an extracorporeal bioartificial liver support system (EBLSS) and study its support effect for fulminant hepatic failure (FHF).
Methods: The EBLSS consists of three parts: human liver cells (hepatocytes, nonparenchymal hepatocytes) isolated and cultured by extracorporeal two-stage perfusion and spheroidal aggregates methods respectively, hollow fiber bioreactor, and supplementary circulation unit, which was employed to support the FHF model dogs.
Results: Compared with the control dogs treated with EBLSS but without liver cells, the survival time of artificial liver support dogs was significantly prolonged, the changes of blood pressure, heart rate and ECG were slower, and the serum ammonia and lactate levels were significantly lower at the 3 and 5 hr. In addition, a good viability of human liver cells was noted after 5 hr experiment.
Conclusion: This EBLSS has played the metabolic role of cultured heman hepatocytes, is capable of compensating the function of the liver, and might provide effective artificial liver support and therapy for patients with FHF or severe hepatitis.