Evaluation of the BioLogic-DT sorbent-suspension dialyser in patients with fulminant hepatic failure

Abstract

The BioLogic-DT sorbent suspension dialyser was developed to remove toxic substances from the blood of patients with liver failure. In the present study a randomised controlled trial was carried out in 10 patients with fulminant hepatic failure who had developed grade 4 encephalopathy to evaluate the safety and biocompatibility of the dialyser in such severely ill patients. A total of 18 treatments were performed in 5 patients. Haemodynamic stability was maintained throughout. There was a significant loss of platelets (163 +/- 34 to 101 +/- 13 x 10(9)/l) and decrease in plasma fibrinogen (0.53 +/- 0.09 to 0.31 +/- 0.08 g/l) with a rise in blood activated clotting time (190 +/- 17 to 223 +/- 22 sec)--not seen in the controls--, which was a result of the dialysis being carried out without the use of heparin as anticoagulant. Removal of metabolites by treatment was limited, with no significant effect on blood ammonia level and further developments of the system will be needed for this very sick group of patients.