Background: To investigate the method and therapeutic efficacy of artificial liver support system (ALSS) in treatment of severe viral hepatitis.
Methods: A total of 83 patients including 66 with severe viral hepatitis were treated with ALSS using Baxter-550 artificial kidney and Biologic-DT system.
Results: The levels of mean bilirubin, ALT, AST, BUN, Cr and endotoxin was significantly decreased after the treatment. Of the 66 patients?with severe viral hepatitis, 31(47.0%) had improvement in symptoms and 35 (53.0%) died or left hospital. In the control group,50(27.6%) out of the 181 had improvement in symptoms and 131(72.4%) died or left hospital.
Conclusions: ALSS could exert certain therapeutic effects on severe viral hepatitis.