Artificial Liver May Extend Lives (June 2, 2009)

This article provides an accurate representation of the current progress and uses of the artificial liver, or Extracorporeal Liver Assist Device (ELAD). According to the article, artificial livers have been in trials since the 1960’s, but have had little success. Problems have arisen due to complications such as the difficulty in creating chemicals essential to metabolism and blood clotting. However, with the advances in technology and the ability to grow human cells in culture and then implant these immortalized hepatocytes onto some type of synthetic material, ELADs have overcome many of the earlier issues. Due to this technology and increased success rates, the population eligible to be put on the ELAD has expanded. Now, there are more hospitals around the U.S. that are offering this therapy to acute liver failure patients as part of clinical trials. Thus far, the results of ELAD are very promising and “thirty day transplant survival rates were statistically higher in the ELAD group compared to the control,” which consisted of standard therapy. If clinical trials continue going well, the use of ELAD will expand even more, and may become a standard procedure for acute liver failure patients in a few years.

This progress in liver treatment will most likely prolong life by assisting people who have liver failure until a transplant can be received. While the ELAD itself is not sufficient to sustain life for a long period of time, scientists are hoping that while on ELAD, livers will be able to regenerate and gain back normal function. This would not only save a person’s life, but will also eliminate the need for a transplant.

-Mark

Belinda Mager, Bio-Medicine, 6/2/09

http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news-1/Artificial-liver-may-extend-lives-47650-2/