Reduced encephalopathy in pigs with ischemia-induced acute hepatic failure treated with a bioartificial liver containing alginate-entrapped hepatocytes

Abstract

The ischemia-induced model of acute hepatic failure in pigs is reproducible and provides measurable clinical and biological features. A bioartificial liver containing alginate bead-entrapped hepatocytes improves the signs of encephalopathy in pigs with ischemia-induced acute hepatic failure, suggesting that the bioartificial liver can clear out toxic compounds that are released from necrotic livers.