Trial begins for the first artificial liver device using human cells (February 25, 1999)

Physicians at the University of Chicago Hospitals began clinical testing of the first artificial liver device that uses cells from humans rather than pigs. Vitagen Inc. of La Jolla, California has designed ELAD (Extracorporeal Liver Assist Device) to serve as a temporary liver support for patients suffering form acute liver failure. The device has two goals: 1.) to support the patient through a brief period of liver failure, protecting the organs for up to 10 days, giving the damaged liver time to recover without transplantation; 2.) to extend the patients ability to survive until a suitable liver transplant is available.

The system separates the plasma from the cellular components of the blood. The device pumps the patient's plasma through cell-filled cartridges. The cartridges put the plasma in contact with millions of liver cells, which should function much like a normal liver. The treated plasma is filtered and re-mixed with the cellular components of the blood, and put back into the patient.




The trial will involve 24 patients. Six patients will receive standard therapy plus treatment with the ELAD Artificial Liver. Eighteen patients will be divided randomly--nine to receive treatment with ELAD and nine to receive standard therapy.

Seven years prior to this breakthrough trial, baboon and pig livers made their way into the human body to assist patients suffering from liver failure. To me, the ELAD represents a significant advance in the quest to lessen the amount of deaths caused by liver-related diseases. The article states that there are 12,000 people currently waiting for a liver transplant and less than 4,500 viable livers donated each year. With an obvious lack of available organ donors, the ELAD could serve as a fantastic option for when a liver fails or when a viable liver fails to reach a patient for transplantation.

There have been biotechnological breakthroughs in artificial assist devices for the heart, lungs, and kidneys. However, the liver as seen no such devices even after xenogeneic transplantation was met with rejection and no permanent artificial liver. The ELAD, with its use of human cells, could possibly be more able to imitate the function of a human liver. Perhaps this device will be what the failed liver has been waiting for.

-Andrea

No author given, UChicago Medical Center, 2/25/99
http://www.uchospitals.edu/news/1999/19990225-elad.html