Viral Hepatitis
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 15, 2004; 10(20): 2984-2988
Published online Oct 15, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i20.2984
Effect of artificial liver support system on patients with severe viral hepatitis: A study of four hundred cases
Lan-Juan Li, Qian Yang, Jian-Rong Huang, Xiao-Wei Xu, Yue-Mei Chen, Su-Zhen Fu
Lan-Juan Li, Qian Yang, Jian-Rong Huang, Xiao-Wei Xu, Yue-Mei Chen, Su-Zhen Fu, Department of Infectious Diseases, First Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program), No. 2003AA205015 and the Major Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province, No. 021107689 and No. 021103126 and the Health Foundation of Zhejiang Province, No. 2003A031
Correspondence to: Dr. Lan-Juan Li, Department of Infectious Disease, First Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China. ljli@zjwst.gov.cn
Telephone: +86-571-87236759 Fax: +86-571-87236755
Received: January 10, 2004
Revised: January 23, 2004
Accepted: March 2, 2004
Published online: October 15, 2004
Abstract

AIM: To assess the effect of artificial liver support system (ALSS) on patients with severe viral hepatitis, who were divided into treatment group and control group.

METHODS: Four hundred in-hospital patients enrolled during 1995-2003 who received ALSS therapy were studied as the treatment group. Four hundred in-hospital patients enrolled during 1986-1994 who received other medical therapies served as the control group. The methods of ALSS used included plasma exchange, hemoperfusion, hemofiltration, continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF). The effect of ALSS treatment was studied in patients at different stages of the disease.

RESULTS: The cure rate of acute and subacute severe hepatitis in the treatment group was 78.9% (30/38), and was 11.9% (5/42) in the control group. The improved rate of chronic severe hepatitis in the treatment group was 43.4% (157/362), and was 15.4% (55/358) in the control group. We found that patients treated with ALSS in the early or middle stage of the disease had much higher survival rates than patients in the end stage of the disease.

CONCLUSION: ALSS is an effective and safe therapy for severe viral hepatitis.

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