Liver support system

Short description: Therapeutic device

Liver support system

Specialty| hepatology

[edit on Wikidata]

A liver support system or diachysis is a type of therapeutic device to assist in performing the functions of the liver. Such systems focus either on removing the accumulating toxins (liver dialysis), or providing additional replacement of the metabolic functions of the liver through the inclusion of hepatocytes to the device (bioartificial liver device). A diachysis machine is used for acute care i.e. emergency care, as opposed to a dialysis machine which are typically used over the longer term. These systems are being trialed to help people with acute liver failure (ALF) or acute-on-chronic liver failure.[1]

The primary functions of the liver include removing toxic substances from the blood, manufacturing blood proteins, storing energy in the form of glycogen, and secreting bile. The hepatocytes that perform these tasks can be killed or impaired by disease, resulting in acute liver failure (ALF) which can be seen in person with previously diseased liver or a healthy one.

## Contents

* 1 Etymology
* 2 Liver failure
* 3 Bioartificial liver devices
* 3.1 History
* 3.1.1 Early history
* 3.1.2 Development
* 3.2 Use
* 3.3 Function
* 3.3.1 Hollow fibre systems
* 3.3.2 Cryogel-Based Systems
* 3.4 Clinical Studies
* 3.4.1 HepatAssist
* 3.4.2 Extracorporeal Liver Assist Device
* 4 Liver dialysis
* 4.1 Prognosis/survival
* 4.2 Devices
* 4.2.1 Single Pass Albumin Dialysis (SPAD)
* 4.2.2 Molecular adsorbents recirculation system
* 4.2.3 Comparing SPAD, MARS and CVVHDF
* 4.2.4 Prometheus
* 4.2.5 Dialive
* 5 The MARS System
* 5.1 MARS System Components
* 5.2 Results published in the literature with the MARS system
* 5.3 Effects of MARS treatment on Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE)
* 5.4 Effects of MARS Treatment on Unstable Hemodynamics
* 5.5 Effects of MARS Treatment on Renal Function
* 5.6 Effects of MARS Treatment on Biochemical Parameters
* 5.7 Effects of MARS Treatment on Pruritus
* 5.8 Effects of MARS Treatment on Drugs and Poisons clearance
* 5.9 Effects of MARS on Survival
* 5.10 Safety Aspects
* 5.11 Health Economics
* 5.12 MARS Therapy Indications
* 5.12.1 Acute on Chronic Liver Failure
* 5.12.2 Acute Liver failure
* 5.12.3 MARS in Graft Dysfucntion After Liver Transplant
* 5.12.4 MARS in liver Failure after Liver Surgery
* 5.12.5 MARS for intractable pruritus in Cholestasis
* 5.13 MARS Therapy Contraindications
* 5.14 Treatment Parameters
* 5.15 FDA Clearance (US only)
* 6 LiverNet
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 Further reading

## Etymology

* The word diachysis derives from the Greek word, διάχυσησ, which means "Diffusion"
* The word dialysis derives from the Greek word, διάλυσις, which means "Dissolution"

## Liver failure

Classification of acute liver failure  | Hyperacute | Acute | Subacute

|
|
|

Interval between jaundice and encephalopathy (days)  | 0-7  | 8-28  | 29-84
Survival (%) without liver transplant  | 36  | 7  | 14
Coagulation disorder  | +++  | ++  | \+
Jaundice  | \+  | ++  | +++
Cerebral edema  | ++  | ++  | +/-
Most frequent etiology  | Paracetamol
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis E
Ischemia  | Hepatitis B drugs  | Non-paracetamol

In hyperacute and acute liver failure, the clinical picture develops rapidly with progressive encephalopathy and multiorgan dysfunction such as hyperdynamic circulation, coagulopathy, acute kidney injury and respiratory insufficiency, severe metabolic alterations, and cerebral edema that can lead to brain death.[2][3] In these cases the mortality without liver transplantation (LTx) ranges between 40-80%.[4][5] LTx is the only effective treatment for these patients although it requires a precise indication and timing to achieve good results. Nevertheless, due to the scarcity of organs to carry out liver transplantations, it is estimated that one third of patients with ALF die while waiting to be transplanted.[6]

On the other hand, a patient with a chronic hepatic disease can suffer acute decompensation of liver function following a precipitating event such as variceal bleeding, sepsis and excessive alcohol intake among others that can lead to a condition referred to as acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF).

Both types of hepatic insufficiency, ALF and ACLF, can potentially be reversible and liver functionality can return to a level similar to that prior to the insult or precipitating event.

LTx has shown an improvement in the prognosis and survival with severe cases of ALF. Nevertheless, cost and donor scarcity have prompted researchers to look for new supportive treatments that can act as "bridge" to the transplant procedure. By stabilizing the patient's clinical state, or by creating the right conditions that could allow the recovery of native liver functions, both detoxification and synthesis can improve, after an episode of ALF or ACLF.[7]

Three different types of supportive therapies have been developed: bio-artificial, artificial and hybrid liver support systems (Table 2).

Table 2: Liver Support Systems
Bio-artificial | Artificial | Hybrids

|
|

ELAD[8]

Extracorporeal liver assist device

| MARS[9]

Molecular adsorbent recirculating system

| Hepat-Assist[10]
BLSS[11]

Bioartificial Liver Support System

| Prometheus FPSA[12]

Fractionated plasma separation and adsorption system

| TECLA-HALSS[13]

TECA-Hybrid Artificial Liver Support System

RFB[14]

Radial Flow Bioreactor

| SPAD[15]

Single-pass albumin dialysis

| MELS[16]

Modular Extracorporeal Liver Support

AMC-BAL[17]

Bioartificial Liver

| SEPET[18]

Selective plasma filtration therapy

| \-

## Bioartificial liver devices

Liver support system

Specialty| internal medicine

[edit on Wikidata]

Bioartificial liver devices are experimental extracorporeal devices that use living cell lines to provide detoxification and synthesis support to the failing liver. Bio-artificial liver (BAL) Hepatassist 2000 uses porcine hepatocytes whereas ELAD system employs hepatocytes derived from human hepatoblastoma C3A cell lines.[19][20] Both techniques can produce, in fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), an improvement of hepatic encephalopathy grade and biochemical parameters. Potential side effects that have been documented include immunological issues (porcine endogenous retrovirus transmission), infectious complications, and tumor transmigration.

Other biological hepatic systems are Bioartificial Liver Support (BLSS) and Radial Flow Bioreactor (RFB). Detoxification capacity of these systems is poor and therefore they must be used combined with other systems to mitigate this deficiency. Today, its use is limited to centers with high experience in their application.[21]

A bioartificial liver device (BAL) is an artificial extracorporeal liver support (ELS) system for an individual who is suffering from acute liver failure (ALF) or acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). The fundamental difference between artificial and BAL systems lies in the inclusion of hepatocytes into the reactor, often operating alongside the purification circuits used in artificial ELS systems. The overall design varies between different BAL systems, but they largely follow the same basic structure, with patient blood or plasma flow through an artificial matrix housing hepatocytes. Plasma is often separated from the patient's blood to improve efficiency of the system, and the device can be connected to artificial liver dialysis devices in order to further increase the effectiveness of the device in filtration of toxins. The inclusion of functioning hepatocytes in the reactor allows the restoration of some of the synthetic functions that the patient's liver is lacking.[22]

### History

#### Early history

The first bioartificial liver device was developed in 1993 by Dr. Achilles A. Demetriou at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The bioartificial liver helped an 18-year-old southern California woman survive without her own liver for 14 hours until she received a human liver using a 20-inch-long, 4-inch-wide plastic cylinder filled with cellulose fibers and pig liver cells. Blood was routed outside the patient's body and through the artificial liver before being returned to the body.[23][24]

Dr. Kenneth Matsumara's work on the BAL led it to be named an invention of the year by Time magazine in 2001.[25] Liver cells obtained from an animal were used instead of developing a piece of equipment for each function of the liver. The structure and function of the first device also resembles that of today's BALs. Animal liver cells are suspended in a solution and a patient's blood is processed by a semipermeable membrane that allow toxins and blood proteins to pass but restricts an immunological response.[25]

#### Development

Advancements in bioengineering techniques in the decade after Matsumara's work have led to improved membranes and hepatocyte attachment systems.[26] Cell sources now include primary porcine hepatocytes, primary human hepatocytes, human hepatoblastoma (C3A), immortalized human cell lines and stem cells.[26]

### Use

The purpose of BAL-type devices is not to permanently replace liver functions, but to serve as a supportive device,[27] either allowing the liver to regenerate properly upon acute liver failure, or to bridge the individual's liver functions until a transplant is possible.

### Function

BALs are essentially bioreactors, with embedded hepatocytes (liver cells) that perform the functions of a normal liver. They process oxygenated blood plasma, which is separated from the other blood constituents.[28] Several types of BALs are being developed, including hollow fiber systems and flat membrane sheet systems.[29]

Various types of hepatocytes are used in these devices. Porcine hepatocytes are often used due to ease of acquisition and cost; however, they are relatively unstable and carry the risk of cross-species disease transmission.[30] Primary human hepatocytes sourced from donor organs present several problems in their cost and difficulty to obtain, especially with the current lack in transplantable tissue.[30] In addition, questions have been raised about tissue collected from patients transmitting malignancy or infection via the BAL device. Several lines of human hepatocytes are also used in BAL devices, including C3A and HepG2 tumour cell lines, but due to their origin from hepatomas, they possess the potential to pass on malignancy to the patient.[31] There is ongoing research into the cultivation of new types of human hepatocytes capable of improved longevity and efficacy in a bioreactor over currently used cell types, that do not pose the risk of transfer of malignancy or infection, such as the HepZ cell line created by Werner et al..[32]

#### Hollow fibre systems

Similar to kidney dialysis, hollow fiber systems employ a hollow fiber cartridge. Hepatocytes are suspended in a gel solution such as collagen, which is injected into a series of hollow fibers. In the case of collagen, the suspension is then gelled within the fibers, usually by a temperature change. The hepatocytes then contract the gel by their attachment to the collagen matrix, reducing the volume of the suspension and creating a flow space within the fibers. Nutrient media is circulated through the fibers to sustain the cells. During use, plasma is removed from the patients blood. The patient's plasma is fed into the space surrounding the fibers. The fibers, which are composed of a semi-permeable membrane, facilitate transfer of toxins, nutrients and other chemicals between the blood and the suspended cells. The membrane also keeps immune bodies, such as immunoglobulins, from passing to the cells to prevent an immune system rejection.[33]

#### Cryogel-Based Systems

Currently, hollow-fibre bioreactors are the most commonly accepted design for clinical use due to their capillary-network allowing for easy perfusion of plasma across cell populations.[34] However, these structures have their limitations, with convectional transport issues, nutritional gradients, non-uniform seeding, inefficient immobilisation of cells, and reduced hepatocyte growth restricting their effectiveness in BAL designs.[35] Researchers are now investigating the use of cryogels to replace hollow-fibres as the cell carrier components in BAL systems.

Cryogels are super-macroporous three-dimensional polymers prepared at sub-zero temperatures, by the freezing of a solution of cryogel precursors and solvent. The pores develop during this freezing process – as the cryogel solution cools, the solvent begins to form crystals. This causes the concentration of the cryogel precursors in the solution to increase, initiating the cryogelation process and forming the polymer walls. As the cryogel warms, the solvent crystals thaw, leaving cavities that form the pores.[36] Cryogel pores range in size from 10-100 μm in size, forming an interconnected network that mimics a capillary system with a very large surface area to volume ratio, supporting large numbers of immobilised cells. Convection mediated transport is also supported by cryogels, enabling even distribution of nutrients and metabolite elimination, overcoming some of the shortcomings of hollow-fibre systems.[35] Cryogel scaffolds demonstrate good mechanical strength and biocompatibility without triggering an immune response, improving their potential for long-term inclusion in BAL devices or in-vitro use.[37] Another advantage of cryogels is their flexibility for use in a variety of tasks, including separation and purification of substances, along with acting as extracellular matrix for cell growth and proliferation. Immobilisation of specific ligands onto cryogels enables adsorption of specific substances, supporting their use as treatment options for toxins,[38] for separation of haemoglobin from blood,[39] and as a localised and sustained method for drug delivery.[40]

Developing an effective bioartificial liver (BAL) remains a formidable challenge, as it necessitates the intricate optimization of cell colonization, biomaterial scaffold design, and BAL fluid dynamics. Expanding upon prior research indicating its potential as a blood perfusion device for detoxification, some studies have explored the application of Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-containingPoly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA)-alginate cryogels as scaffolds for BAL. These cryogels, incorporating alginate to mitigate protein fouling and functionalized with an RGD-containing peptide to enhance hepatocyte adhesion, represent a promising avenue for BAL scaffold development. Methods for characterizing internal flow within the porous cryogel matrix such as Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), enables visualization of flow dynamics. PIV analysis revealed the laminar flow characteristics within cryogel pores, prompting the design of a multi-layered bioreactor consisting of spaced cryogel discs to optimize blood/hepatocyte mass exchange. Compared to the column configuration, the stacked bioreactor demonstrated significantly elevated production of albumin and urea, alongside enhanced cell colonization and proliferation over time.[35]

Recent developments in bioartificial liver (BAL) using living liver cells have shown promising advancements in the field of liver support and regeneration. These developments focus on utilizing various cell sources, scaffold materials, and bioreactor designs to enhance the functionality and viability of BAL systems. Key advancements include:

Cell Sources: Researchers have explored different cell sources for BAL, including primary hepatocytes, stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells, and immortalized liver cell lines. Efforts have been made to optimize cell culture conditions to maintain cell viability and functionality within BAL systems.

Scaffold Materials: Biomaterial scaffolds play a critical role in providing structural support and facilitating cell attachment and proliferation in BAL systems. Recent studies have investigated the use of natural and synthetic materials, such as hydrogels, alginate, and decellularized liver scaffolds, to create biomimetic environments conducive to liver cell growth and function.

Bioreactor Designs: Innovative bioreactor designs have been developed to enhance the performance of BAL systems by optimizing mass transfer, fluid dynamics, and cell-matrix interactions. These designs include perfusion-based bioreactors, microfluidic devices, and three-dimensional (3D) bioprinted constructs, which aim to mimic the physiological microenvironment of the liver and promote liver cell function and survival.

Functional Assessment: Advances in bioanalytical techniques have enabled researchers to assess the functionality of liver cells within BAL systems more accurately. These techniques include measuring the secretion of liver-specific biomarkers, such as albumin, urea, and bile acids, as well as evaluating metabolic activity, drug metabolism, and detoxification capacity.

### Clinical Studies

There have been numerous clinical studies involving hollow-fibre bioreactors. Overall, they show promise but do not provide statistically significant evidence supporting their effectiveness. This is generally due to inherent design limitations, causing convectional transport issues, nutritional gradients, non-uniform seeding, inefficient immobilisation of cells, and reduced hepatocyte growth.[35] As of writing, no cryogel-based devices have entered clinical trials. However, laboratory results have been promising,[35][41] and hopefully trials will begin soon.

#### HepatAssist

The HepatAssist, developed at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, is a BAL device containing porcine hepatocytes within a hollow-fibre bioreactor. These semi-permeable fibres act as capillaries, allowing the perfusion of plasma through the device, and across the hepatocytes surrounding the fibres. The system incorporates a charcoal column to act as a filter, removing additional toxins from the plasma.[42]

Demetriou et al.[42] carried out a large, randomised, multicentre, controlled trial on the safety and efficacy of the HepatAssist device. 171 patients with ALF stemming from viral hepatitis, paracetamol overdose or other drug complications, primary non-function (PNF), or of indeterminate aetiology, were involved in the study and were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control groups. The study found that at the primary end-point 30-day post admission mark, there was an increased survival rate in BAL patients over control patients (71% vs 62%), but the difference was not significant. However, when patients with PNF are excluded from the results there is a 44% reduction in mortality for BAL treated patients, a statistically significant advantage. The investigators noted that exclusion of PNF patients is justifiable due to early retransplantation and lack of intercranial hypertension, so HepatAssist would give little benefit to this group. For the secondary end-point of time-to-death, in patients with ALF of known aetiology there was a significant difference between BAL and control groups, with BAL patients surviving for longer. There was no significant difference for patients of unknown aetiology, however.

The conclusions of the study suggest that such a device has potentially significant importance when used as a treatment measure. While the overall findings were not statistically significant, when the aetiology of the patients was taken into account the BAL group gained a statistically significant reduction in mortality over the control group. This suggests that while the device may not be applicable to patients as an overall treatment for liver dysfunction, it can provide an advantage when the heterogeneity of patients is considered and is used with patients of specific aetiology.

#### Extracorporeal Liver Assist Device

The Extracorporeal Liver Assist Device (ELAD) is a human-cell based treatment system. A catheter removes blood from the patient, and an ultrafiltrate generator separates the plasma from the rest of the blood. This plasma is then run through a separate circuit containing cartridges filled with C3A cells, before being returned to the main circuit and re-entering the patient.[43]

Thompson et al.[43] performed a large open-label trial, measuring the effectiveness of ELAD on patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis resulting in ACLF. Their study involved patients screened at 40 sites across the US, UK, and Australia, and enrolled a total of 203 patients. Patients were then randomised into either ELAD (n=96) or standard medical care (n=107) groups, with even distribution for patients in terms of sex, MELD score, and bilirubin levels. Of the 96 patients in the ELAD group, 45 completed the full 120 hours of treatment – the rest were unable to complete the full regimen due to a variety of reasons, including withdrawal of consent or severe adverse events, though 37 completed >72 hours of treatment, with results showing minimal difference in mortality between those receiving either >72 hours or the full 120 hours of treatment. The study was unable to complete its goal, finding no statistically significant improvement in mortality rates for patients that received ELAD treatment over those receiving standard care at 28 and 91 days (76.0% versus 80.4% and 59.4% versus 61.7%, respectively). Biomarker measurements showed a significantly reduced level of bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase in ELAD patients, though neither improvement translated into increased survivability rates. Outcomes for patients with MELD score <28 showed trends towards improved survival on ELAD, whereas those with MELD >28 had decreased survivability on ELAD. These patients presented with raised creatinine from kidney failure, suggesting a reason why ELAD decreased survival chance over standard care. Unlike artificial ELS devices and HepatAssist, ELAD does not incorporate any filtration devices, such as charcoal columns and exchange resins. Therefore, it cannot replace the filtration capability of the kidneys and cannot compensate for multi-organ failure from more severe presentations of ACLF, resulting in increased mortality rates.

While the results of the study cannot provide conclusive evidence to suggest that a BAL device like ELAD improves the outcome of severe ACLF, it does suggest that it can aid the survival of patients with a less severe form of the disease. In those patients with a MELD <28, beneficial effects were seen 2–3 weeks post treatment, suggesting that while C3A incorporating BAL devices are unable to provide short-term aid like artificial albumin filtration devices, they instead provide more long-term aid in recovery of the patient's liver.[43]

A randomized, phase 3 trial of the ELAD device in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis failed to show benefit on overall survival and development was discontinued.[44]

## Liver dialysis

Artificial liver support systems are aimed to temporarily replace native liver detoxification functions and they use albumin as scavenger molecule to clear the toxins involved in the physiopathology of the failing liver. Most of the toxins that accumulate in the plasma of patients with liver insufficiency are protein bound, and therefore conventional renal dialysis techniques, such as hemofiltration, hemodialysis or hemodiafiltration are not able to adequately eliminate them.

Liver dialysis has shown promise for patients with hepatorenal syndrome. It is similar to hemodialysis and based on the same principles, but hemodialysis does not remove toxins bound to albumin that accumulate in liver failure. Like a bioartificial liver device, it is a form of artificial extracorporeal liver support.[45][46]

A critical issue of the clinical syndrome in liver failure is the accumulation of toxins not cleared by the failing liver. Based on this hypothesis, the removal of lipophilic, albumin-bound substances such as bilirubin, bile acids, metabolites of aromatic amino acids, medium-chain fatty acids and cytokines should be beneficial to the clinical course of a patient in liver failure. This led to the development of artificial filtration and absorption devices.

Liver dialysis is performed by physicians and surgeons and specialized nurses with training in gastroenterological medicine and surgery, namely, in hepatology, alongside their colleagues in the intensive or critical care unit and the transplantation department, which is responsible for procuring and implanting a new liver, or a part (lobe) of one, if and when it becomes available in time and the patient is eligible. Because of the need for these experts, as well as the relative newness of the procedure in certain areas, it is usually available only in larger hospitals, such as level I trauma center teaching hospitals connected with medical schools.

Between the different albumin dialysis modalities, single pass albumin dialysis (SPAD) has shown some positive results at a very high cost;[47] it has been proposed that lowering the concentration of albumin in the dialysate does not seem to affect the detoxification capability of the procedure.[48] Nevertheless, the most widely used systems today are based on hemodialysis and adsorption. These systems use conventional dialysis methods with an albumin containing dialysate that is later regenerated by means of adsorption columns, filled with activated charcoal and ion exchange resins. At present, there are two artificial extracorporeal liver support systems: the Molecular Adsorbents Recirculating System (MARS) from Gambro and Fractionated Plasma Separation and Adsorption (FPSA), commercialised as Prometheus (PROM) from Fresenius Medical Care. Of the two therapies, MARS is the most frequently studied, and clinically used system to date.

### Prognosis/survival

While the technique is in its infancy, the prognosis of patients with liver failure remains guarded. Liver dialysis is currently only considered to be a bridge to transplantation or liver regeneration (in the case of acute liver failure)[49][50][51] and, unlike kidney dialysis (for kidney failure), cannot support a patient for an extended period of time (months to years).

### Devices

Artificial detoxification devices currently under clinical evaluation include the Single Pass Albumin Dialysis (SPAD), Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System (MARS), Prometheus system, and Dialive.

#### Single Pass Albumin Dialysis (SPAD)

Single pass albumin dialysis (SPAD) is a simple method of albumin dialysis using standard renal replacement therapy machines without an additional perfusion pump system: The patient's blood flows through a circuit with a high-flux hollow fiber hemodiafilter, identical to that used in the MARS system. The other side of this membrane is cleansed with an albumin solution in counter-directional flow, which is discarded after passing the filter. Hemodialysis can be performed in the first circuit via the same high-flux hollow fibers.

#### Molecular adsorbents recirculation system

The Molecular Adsorbents Recirculation System (MARS) is the best known extracorporal liver dialysis system. It consists of two separate dialysis circuits. The first circuit consists of human serum albumin, is in contact with the patient's blood through a semipermeable membrane and has two filters to clean the albumin after it has absorbed toxins from the patient's blood. The second circuit consists of a hemodialysis machine and is used to clean the albumin in the first circuit, before it is recirculated to the semipermeable membrane in contact with the patient's blood.

#### Comparing SPAD, MARS and CVVHDF

SPAD, MARS and continuous veno-venous haemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) were compared in vitro with regard to detoxification capacity.[52] SPAD and CVVHDF showed a significantly greater reduction of ammonia compared with MARS. No significant differences could be observed between SPAD, MARS and CVVHDF concerning other water-soluble substances. However, SPAD enabled a significantly greater bilirubin reduction than MARS. Bilirubin serves as an important marker substance for albumin-bound (non-water-soluble) substances. Concerning the reduction of bile acids no significant differences between SPAD and MARS were seen. It was concluded that the detoxification capacity of SPAD is similar or even higher when compared with the more sophisticated, more complex and hence more expensive MARS.

Albumin dialysis is a costly procedure: for a seven-hour treatment with MARS, approximately €300 for 600 mL human serum albumin solution (20%), €1740 for a MARS treatment kit, and €125 for disposables used by the dialysis machine have to be spent. The cost of this therapy adds up to approximately €2165. Performing SPAD according to the protocol by Sauer et al., however, requires 1000 mL of human albumin solution (20%) at a cost of €500. A high-flux dialyzer costing approximately €40 and the tubings (€125) must also be purchased. The overall costs of a SPAD treatment is approximately €656—30% of the costs of an equally efficient MARS therapy session. The expenditure for the MARS monitor necessary to operate the MARS disposables is not included in this calculation.

#### Prometheus

The Prometheus system (Fresenius Medical Care, Bad Homburg, Germany) is a device based on the combination of albumin adsorption with high-flux hemodialysis after selective filtration of the albumin fraction through a specific polysulfon filter (AlbuFlow). It has been studied[53] in a group of eleven patients with hepatorenal syndrome (acute-on-chronic liver failure and accompanying kidney failure). The treatment for two consecutive days for more than four hours significantly improved serum levels of conjugated bilirubin, bile acids, ammonia, cholinesterase, creatinine, urea and blood pH. Prometheus was proven to be a safe supportive therapy for patients with liver failure.

#### Dialive

Dialive (Yaqrit Limited, London, UK) incorporates albumin removal and replacement and, endotoxin removal. It is at "Technology readiness level" (TRL) 5, which means it is validated in the disease environment.[54][55]

## The MARS System

MARS was developed by a group of researchers at the University of Rostock (Germany), in 1993 and later commercialized for its clinical use in 1999.[56] The system is able to replace the detoxification function of the liver while minimizing the inconvenience and drawbacks of previously used devices.[57][58][59]

In vivo preliminary investigations indicated the ability of the system to effectively remove bilirubin, biliary salts, free fatty acids and tryptophan while important physiological proteins such as albumin, alpha-1-glicoproteine, alpha 1 antitrypsin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, transferrin, globulin tyrosine, and hormonal systems are unaffected.[60] Also, MARS therapy in conjunction with CRRT/HDF can help clear cytokines acting as inflammatory and immunological mediators in hepatocellular damage, and therefore can create the right environment to favour hepatocellular regeneration and recovery of native liver function.

### MARS System Components

Combined MARS and PrismaFlex monitors

MARS is an extracorporeal hemodialysis system composed of three different circuits: blood, albumin and low-flux dialysis. The blood circuit uses a double lumen catheter and a conventional hemodialysis device to pump the patient's blood into the MARS FLUX, a biocompatible polysulfone high-flux dialyser. With a membrane surface area of 2.1 m2, 100 nm of thickness and a cut-off of 50 KDa, the MARSFLUX is essential to retaining the albumin in the dialysate. Blood is dialysed against a human serum albumin (HSA) dialysate solution that allows blood detoxification of both water-soluble and protein-bound toxins, by means of the presence of albumin in the dialysate (albumin dialysis). The albumin dialysate is then regenerated in a close loop in the MARS circuit by passing through the fibres of the low-flux diaFLUX filter, to clear water-soluble toxins and provide electrolyte/acid-base balance, by a standard dialysis fluid. Next, the albumin dialysate passes through two different adsorption columns; protein-bound substances are removed by the diaMARS AC250, containing activated charcoal and anionic substances are removed by the diaMARS IE250, filled with cholestyramine, an anion-exchange resin. The albumin solution is then ready to initiate another detoxifying cycle of the patient's blood that can be sustained until both adsorption columns are saturated, eliminating the need to continuously infuse albumin into the system during treatment (Fig. 1).

Albumin dialysis circuit

Figure 1: The MARS system

### Results published in the literature with the MARS system

A systematic review of the literature from 1999 to June 2011 was performed in the following databases:

1. Specialized in systematic reviews: Cochrane Library Plus and NHS Centre database for Reviews and Dissemination (HTA, DARE and NHSEED).
2. General databases: Medline, Pubmed and Embase.
3. On-going clinical trials and research project databases: Clinical Trials Registry (National Institutes of Health, EE.UU.) and Health Services Research Projects in Progress.
4. General web searching engines: Scholar Google.

### Effects of MARS treatment on Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE)

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) represents one of the more serious extrahepatic complications associated with liver dysfunction.[61][62] Neuro-psychiatric manifestations of HE affect consciousness and behaviour.

Evidence suggests that HE develops as some neurotoxins and neuro active substances, produced after hepatocellular breakdown, accumulates in the brain as a consequence of a portosystemic shunt and the limited detoxification capability of the liver. Substances involved are ammonia, manganese, aromatic aminoacids, mercaptans, phenols, medium chain fatty acids, bilirubin, endogenous benzodiazepines, etc.
The relationship between ammonia neurotoxicity and HE was first described in animal studies by Pavlov et al.[63]
Subsequently, several studies in either animals or humans have confirmed that, a ratio in ammonia concentration higher than 2 mM between the brain and blood stream, causes HE, and even a comatose state when the value is greater than 5 mM. Some investigators have also reported a decrease in serum ammonia following a MARS treatment (Table 3).

Table 3. Clinical studies showing some improvement in the treatment of HE following a MARS treatment  References | Nº patients | Age (years)
[aver. ±SD] | Treatment

Hours/patient

| Ammonia Pre-MARS

(μg/dL)

| Ammonia Post-MARS

(μg/dL)

| p

|
|
|
|
|
|

Awad et al.[64] (1999) | 9 | 38±5 | 73.2 | 130 | 64 | <0.05
Novelli et al.[65] (2002) | 10 | 42±12 | 51.2 | 247 | 126 | <0.003
Schmidt et al.[66] (2001) | 8 | 43±5 | 10.0 | 150 | 121 | <0.05
Sorkyne et al.[67] (2001) | 8 | 47±16 | 28.1 | 280 | 65 | <0.005

Manganese and copper serum levels are increased in patients with either acute or acute on chronic liver failure. Nevertheless, only in those patients with chronic hepatic dysfunction, a bilateral magnetic resonance alteration on Globos Pallidus is observed,[68] probably because this type of patients selectively shows higher cerebral membrane permeability. Imbalance between aromatic and branched chain aminoacids (Fischer index), traditionally involved in HE genesis,[69][70][71] can be normalized following a MARS treatment. The effects are noticeable even after 3 hours of treatment and this reduction in the Fisher index is accompanied with an improvement in the HE.[72]

Novelli G et al.[73] published their three years experience on MARS analyzing the impact of the treatment in the cerebral level for 63 patients reporting an improvement in Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) for all observed in all patients. In the last 22 patients, cerebral perfusion pressure was monitored by Doppler (mean flow velocity in middle cerebral artery), establishing a clear relationship between a clinical improvement (especially neurological) and an improvement in arterial cerebral perfusion. This study confirms other results showing similar increments in cerebral perfusion in patients treated with MARS.[66]

More recently, several studies have shown a significant improvement of HE in patients treated with MARS. In the studies by Heemann et al.[74] and Sen et al.[75] an improvement in HE was considered when encephalopathy grade was reduced by one or more grades vs. basal values; for Hassenein et al., in their randomized controlled trial, improvement was considered when a decrease of two grades was observed.[76] In the latter, 70 patients with acute on chronic liver failure and encephalopathy grade III and IV were included. Likewise, Kramer et al.[77] estimated an HE improvement when an improvement in peak N70 latency in electroencephalograms was observed. Sen et al.44 observed a significant reduction in Child-Pugh Score (p<0,01) at 7 days following a MARS treatment, without any significant change in the controls. Nevertheless, when they looked at the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Score (MELD), a significant reduction in both groups, MARS and controls, was recorded (p<0,01 y p<0,05, respectively). Likewise, in several case series, an improvement in HE grade with MARS therapy is also reported.[78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86]

### Effects of MARS Treatment on Unstable Hemodynamics

Hemodynamic instability is often associated with acute liver insufficiency, as a consequence of endogenous accumulation of vasoactive agents in the blood. This is characterized by a systemic vasodilatation, a decrease of systemic vascular resistance, arterial hypotension, and an increase of cardiac output that gives rise to a hyperdynamic circulation.
During MARS therapy, systemic vascular resistance index and mean arterial pressure have been shown to increase and show improvement.[78][80][82][87][88]
Schmidt et al.[89] reported the treatment of 8 patients, diagnosed with acute hepatic failure, that were treated with MARS for 6 hours, and were compared with a control group of 5 patients to whom ice pads were applied to match the heat loss produced in the treatment group during the extracorporeal therapy. They analyzed hemodynamic parameters in both groups hourly. In the MARS group, a statistically significant increase of 46% on systemic vascular resistance was observed (1215 ± 437 to 1778 ± 710 dinas x s x cm−5 x m−2) compared with a 6% increase in the controls. Mean arterial pressure also increased (69 ± 5 to 83 ± 11 mmHg, p< 0.0001) in the MARS group, whereas no difference was observed in the controls. Cardiac output and heart rate also decreased in the MARS group as a consequence of an improvement in the hyperdynamic circulation. Therefore, it was shown that a statistically significant improvement was obtained with MARS when compared with the SMT.

Catalina et al.[90] have also evaluated systemic and hepatic hemodynamic changes produced by MARS therapy. In 4 patients with acute decompensation of chronic liver disease, they observed after MARS therapy, an attenuation of hyperdynamic circulation and a reduction in the portal pressure gradient was measured. Results are summarized in table 4.

Table 4: Hemodinamic parameters during MARS treatment

PARAMETER | BASE LINE | AFTER 1st TREAT. | AFTER 2nd TREAT.

|
|
|

MAP(mmHg) | 77.8 ± 11.7 | 82.7 ± 11.7 | 84.2 ± 8
WHVP(mmHg) | 40.7 ± 5.6 | 34 ± 9.6 | 37.3 ± 5.5
FHVP(mmHg) | 17.7 ± 7.4 | 16.7 ± 7.5 | 17 ± 3.6
HVPG(mmHg) | 23 ± 7.0 | 17.3 ± 9.9 | 20.3 ± 5.5
PAP(mmHg) | 23.7 ± 7.3 | 22 ± 4.8 | 15.7 ± 4.1
PCP(mmHg) | 17.2 ± 8.3 | 14.5 ± 2.9 | 9.7 ± 7.0
rPAP (mmHg) | 11.2 ± 4.6 | 10 ± 4.2 | 7.3 ± 7.6
CO(l/min) | 11.2 ± 1.6 | 10 ± 2.8 | 9.4 ± 2.1
SVRI (dinas x seg/cm5) | 478.5 ± 105 | 514 ± 104.7 | 622 ± 198
Abbreviations: MAP= mean arterial pressure; WHVP= wedged hepatic venous pressure;FHVP= free hepatic venous pressure; HVPG= hepatic venous pressure gradient; PAP= pulmonary arterial pressure; PCP= pulmonar capillary pressure; rPAP= right pulmonary arterial pressure; CO= cardiac output; SVRI= systemic vascular resistance index.

There are other studies also worth mentioning with similar results: Heemann et al.[74] and Parés et al.[91] among others. Dethloff T et al.[92] concluded that there is a statistically significant improvement favourable to MARS in comparison with Prometheus system (Table 5).

Table 5. Changes in hemodynamic parameters with MARS therapy
MARS System | MAP | SVRI | CO | BR

|
|
|
|

Mitzner et al.[93] (2000) | ↑NS | - | - | \-
Heemann et al.[74] (2002) | ↑S | - | - | \-
Schmidt et al.[89] (2003) | ↑S | ↑S | ↓S | ↓S
Laleman et al.[88] (2006) | ↑S | ↑S | ↔ | ↔
Dethloff et al.[92] (2008) | ↑NS | ↔ | ↔ | ↔
Abbreviations: MAP: Mean arterial pressure; SVRI: Systemic vascular resistance index; CO: Cardiac output; BR: Beat rate; S: Statistically significant, p< 0.05; NS: not statistically significant. ↑: Increase; ↓:Decrease; ↔: No changes.

### Effects of MARS Treatment on Renal Function

Hepatorenal syndrome is one of the more serious complications in patients with acute decompensation of cirrhosis and increased portal hypertension. It is characterized by hemodynamic changes in splanchnic, systemic and renal circulation. Splanchnic vasodilatation triggers the production of endogenous vasoactive substances that produce renal vasoconstriction and low glomerular filtration rate, leading to oliguria with a concomitant reduction in creatinine clearance. Renal insufficiency is always progressive with an inferior prognosis,[93][94] with survival at 1 and 2 months of 20 and 10% respectively.

Pierre Versin[95] is one of the pioneers in the study of hepatorenal syndrome in patients with liver impairment. Great efforts have been made trying to improve the prognosis of this type of patient; however, few have solved the problem. Orthotopic liver transplantation is the only treatment that has shown to improve acute and chronic complications derived from severe liver insufficiency. Today it is possible to combine albumin dialysis with continuous veno-venous hemodialfiltration, which provides a greater expectation for these patients[96] by optimization of their clinical status.

MARS treatment lowers serum urea and creatinine levels improving their clearance,[88][89][90][92] and even favors resolution of hepatorenal syndrome.[74][81][82][87][97] Results are confirmed in a randomized controlled trial published by Mitzner et al..[93] in which 13 patients diagnosed with hepatorenal syndrome type I was treated with MARS therapy. Mean survival was 25,2±34,6 days in the MARS group compared to 4,6±1,8 days observed in the controls in whom hemodiafiltration and standard care (SMT) was applied. This resulted in a statistically significance difference in survival at 7 and 30 days (p<0.05). Authors concluded that MARS therapy, applied to liver failure patients (Child-Pugh C and UNOS 2A scores) who develop hepatorenal syndrome type I, prolonged survival compared to patients treated with SMT.

Although mechanisms explaining previous findings are not yet fully understood, it has been reported that there was a decrease in plasma renin concentrations in patients diagnosed with acute on chronic liver failure with renal impairment that were treated with MARS. Likewise, other studies have suggested some efficacy for MARS in the treatment of hepatorenal syndrome.[98][99][100]
However, other references have been published that do not show efficacy in the treatment of these types of patients with MARS therapy. Khuroo et al..[101] published a meta-analysis based on 4 small RCT's and 2 non RCT's in patients diagnosed with ACLF, concluding that MARS therapy would not bring any significant increment in survival compared with SMT. Another observational study in 6 patients with cirrhosis, refractory ascites and hepatorenal syndrome type I, not responding to vasoconstrictor therapy, showed no impact on hemodynamics following MARS therapy; however authors concluded that MARS therapy could effectively serve as bridge to liver transplantation.[83][102]

### Effects of MARS Treatment on Biochemical Parameters

Total bilirubin was the only parameter analyzed in all trials that was always reduced in the groups of patients treated with MARS; Banayosy et al..[103] measured bilirubin levels 14 days after since MARS therapy was terminated and observed a consistent, significant decrease not only for bilirubin but also for creatinine and urea (Table 6).

Table 6: Biochemical parameters analysis with MARS therapy
MARS study | Controls (n) | MARS Group (n) | Pathology | MARS Intervention | Bilirubin | Creatinine | Albumin | Urea | ALT | AST | Ammonia | BUN

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Mitzner et al. (2000)[93] | 8 | 5 | ACLF (OH) | 6 h x 3 d | ↓S | ↓S | ↑NS | - | - | - | - | \-
Heemann et al. (2002)[74] | 12 | 12 | ACLF | 6 h x 3 d | ↓* | ↓S | - | - | - | - | - | \-
Sen et al. (2004)[75] | 9 | 9 | ACLF+HE (OH) | 8 h x 7 d

4 sessions

| ↓S | ↓S | ↔ | - | - | - | ↔ | \-
Laleman et al.. (2006)[88] | 6 | 6 | SHR | 6-8 h x 10 d | ↓S | ↔ | ↔ | ↔ |  |  | ↔ |
Hassanein et al.. (2007)[76] | 31 | 39 | ACLF+HE (III / IV) | 6 h x 5 d | ↓S | ↓S | - | - | - | - | ↓S | ↓S
Schmidt et al.. (2003)[89] | 5 | 8 | ALF | 6 h | ↓S | ↓S | ↔ | ↓S | ↓S | - | ↔ |
El Banayosy et al.. (2004)[103] | 13 | 14 | ALF | 8 h x 3 d | ↓S | ↓S | - | - | ↔ | ↔ | - | ↓S
Dethloff et al.. (2008)[92] | 8:8 Prometheus | 8 | ACLF | - | ↓S | ↓S | - | - | - | - | - | \-
Montejo et al. (2009)[104] | 26 | 19 | IHA/GD/ACLF | 8 h x 3 d | ↓S | ↓S | ↔ | ↓S | ↓S | ↓S | - | \-

Abbreviations; ALF= acute liver failure; ACLF= acute on chronic liver failure; GD= graft dysfunction; HE= hepatic encephalopathy; AST: aspartate amino transferase; BUN: blood urea nitrogen; NS: not significant; S: statistically significant (p<0,05); ↓decrease; ↑ increase; ↔ no change; ALT: alanine amino transferase; h: hours; d: days

* Primary goal in the Heemann trial was to achieve a bilirubin level beloiw 15 mg/dL during three consecutive days, which was observed in 42% of the patients treated with MARS® compared to 17% in the control group.

Impact of MARS therapy on plasma biliary acids levels was evaluated in 3 studies. In the study from Stadbauer et al..,[105] that was specifically addressing the topic, it is reported that MARS and Prometheus systems lower to the same extent biliary acids plasma concentration. Heemann et al..[74] and Laleman et al..[88] have also published a significant improvement for these organic ions.

### Effects of MARS Treatment on Pruritus

Pruritus is one of the most common clinical manifestations in cholestasis liver diseases and one of the most distressing symptoms in patients with chronic liver disease caused by viral hepatitis C. Many hypotheses have been formulated to explain physio pathogenesis of such manifestation, including incremental plasma concentration of biliary acids, abnormalities in the bile ducts,[106] increased central neurotransmitters coupling opioid receptors,[107][108] etc. Despite the number of historical drugs used, individually or combined (exchange resins, hydrophilic biliary acids, antihistamines, antibiotics, anticonvulsants, opioid antagonists), there are reported cases of intractable or refractory pruritus with a dramatic reduction in patients' quality of life (i.e. sleep disorders, depression, suicide attempts...).[109][110] Intractable pruritus can be an indication for liver transplantation.

The MARS indication for intractable pruritus is therapeutically an option that has shown to be beneficial for patients in desperate cases, although at high cost.[111][112][113][114] In several studies, it was confirmed that after MARS treatments, patients remain free from pruritus for a period of time ranging from 6 to 9 months.[114] Nevertheless, some authors have concluded that besides the good results found in the literature, application of MARS therapy in refractory pruritus requires larger evidence.[112]

### Effects of MARS Treatment on Drugs and Poisons clearance

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics for a majority of drugs can be significantly be modified with liver failure, affecting the therapeutic approach and potential toxicity of the drugs. In these types of patients, Child-Pugh score represents a poor prognostic factor to assess the metabolic capacity of the failing liver.

* Metabolic performance of the liver depends on several factors:
* Hepatic flow rate
* Cytochrome P-450 enzimatic activity
* Albumin affinity for the drug
* Extrahepatic clearance for the drug

In patients with hepatic failure, drugs that are only metabolized in the liver, accumulate in the plasma right after they are administered, and therefore it is needed to modify drug dosing in both, concentration and time intervals, to lower the risk of toxicity. It is also necessary to adjust the dosing for those drugs that are exclusively metabolized by the liver, and have low affinity for prioteins and high distribution volume, such as fluoroquinolones (Levofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin).[115][116][117][118]

Extracorporeal detoxification with albumin dialysis increases the clearance of drugs that are bound to plasmatic proteins (Table 7).

Table 7: Drugs Highly Bound to Proteins
NSAIDs | Antibiotics | Anti-H2 | Statins | Antipsychotics

|
|
|
|

Diclofenac | Cephazoline | Omeprazole | Clofibrate | Chlorpromazine
Ibuprofen | Cefoperazone | Antifungals | Lovastatin | Haloperidol
Indomethacin | Ceftriaxone | Amphotericine B | Simvastatine | Chemotherapy Drugs
Ketoprofen | Cloxacilin | Itraconazole | Fluvastatine | Chlorambucil
Naproxen | Oxacilin | Ketoconazole | Hypotensors | Etoposide
Phenylbutazone | Clindamycin | Barbiturates | Hydralacine | Melphalan
Piroxicam | Erythromycin | Thiopental | Irbesartan | D-penicillamine
Anaesthetics | Teicoplanin | Benzodiazepines | Losartan | Tamoxifen
Bupivacaine | Rifampicin | Clonazepam | Misoprostol | Opioids
Calcium Anthagonists | Rifabutin | Diazepam | Prazosin | Fentanyl
Nimodipine | Antidepresants | Flunitrazepam | Valsartan | Methadone
Nifedipine | Amitriptyline | Flurazepam | ACE's | Antipsychotics
Nitrendipine | Desipramine | Lorazepam | Fosinopropil | Clozapine
Antiarrhythmics | Imipramine | Midazolam | Quinapril | Fluoxetine
Amiodarone | Nortriptyline | Nitrazepam | Immunosuppressors | Risperidone
Quinidine | Anticoagulants | Oxacepam | Ciclosporin | Sertraline
Propafenone | Warfarin | Temazepam | Tacrolimus | Zolpidem
Lidocaine | Antiemetics | Beta Blockers | Methylprednisolone | Others
Digoxin | Ondansetron | Carvedilol | Prednisone | Celecoxib
Verapamil | Antiepilectics | Propanolol | Budesonide | Diphenhydramine
Oral Antidiabetics | Carbamazepine | Diuretics | - | Ethinylestradiol
Glibenclamide | Valproic acid | Furosemide | - | Mefloquine
- | - | Spironolactone | - | Paclitaxel
- | - | Torsemide | - | \-

### Effects of MARS on Survival

In the meta-analysis published by Khuroo et al..[101] which included 4 randomized trials[74][89][93][103] an improvement in survival for the patients with liver failure treated with MARS, compared with SMT, was not observed.

However, neither in the extracorporeal liver support systems review by the Cochrane[119] (published in 2004), nor the meta-analysis by Kjaergard et al..[120] was a significance difference in survival found for patients diagnosed with ALF treated with extracorporeal liver support systems. Nevertheless, these reviews included all kind of liver support systems and used a heterogeneous type of publication (abstracts, clinical trials, cohort, etc.).

There is literature showing favorable results in survival for patients diagnosed with ALF, and treated with MARS., In a randomized controlled trial, Salibà et al..[121] studied the impact on survival of MARS therapy for patients with ALF, waiting on the liver transplant list. Forty-nine patients received SMT and 53 were treated with MARS. They observed that patients that received 3 or more MARS sessions showed a statistically significance increase in transplant-free survival compared with the others patients of the study. Notably, 75% of the patients underwent liver transplantation in the first 24 hours after inclusion in the waiting list, and besides the short exposure to MARS therapy, some patients showed a better survival trend compared to controls, when they were treated with MARS prior to the transplant.

In a case-controlled study by Montejo et al..[104] it was reported that MARS treatment do not decrease mortality directly; however, the treatment contributed to significantly improve survival in patients that were transplanted. In studies by Mitzner et al..[93] and Heemann et al..[74] they were able to show a significance statistical difference in 30-day survival for patients in the MARS group. However, El Banayosy et al..[103] and Hassanein et al..[76] noticed a non significant improvement in survival, probably because of the short number of patients included in the trials. In the majority of available MARS studies published with patients diagnosed with ALF, either transplanted or not, survival was greater in the MARS group with some variations according to the type of trial, ranging from 20-30%,[122][123] and 60-80%.[83][124][125][126] Data is summarized in Tables 8, 9 and 10.

Table 8: Studies of MARS Therapy  MARS Study | Pathology | Nº Patients | Type of Study | Level of Evidence | Study Groups | Analysed Variables

|
|
|
|
|
|

MARS | Controls
Mitzner et al.[93] (2000) | ACLF | 13 | RCT (LN) | III | 18 | 5 HD | 1, 3, 4
Heemann et al.[74] (2002) | ACLF | 24 | RCT (LN) | III | 12 | 12 SMT | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Sen et al.[75] (2004) | ACLF | 18 | RCT (LN) | III | 9 | 9 SMT | 1, 3, 4, 5
Hassanein et al.[76] (2007) | ACLF | 70 | RCT (HN) | II | 39 | 31 SMT | 1, 2, 3, 5
Schmidt et al.[89] (2003) | ALF | 13 | RCT (LN) | III | 8 | 5 SMT | 1, 3, 4
El Banayosy et al.[103] (2004) | ALF | 27 | RCT (LN) | III | 14 | 13 HD | 1, 3
Montejo et al.[104] (2009) | ACLF / ALF | 45 | Case-control | - | 19 | 26 SMT | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
MARS-Prometheus Studies
Evenepoel et al..[127] (2006) | ACLF | 18 | Case serie | VIII | Comparative series | 1, 2, 3
Faenza et al..[128] (2008) | ACLF | 57 | Case serie | VIII | Comparative series | 1, 2, 5
Krisper et al..[129] (2005) | ACLF | 10 | RCT (LN) | III | Crossover | 1, 2, 3
Laleman et al..[88] (2006) | ACLF | 18 | RCT (LN) | III | 6 | 6 | 2, 3, 4
Stadlbauer et al..[130] (2006) | ACLF | 8 | RCT (LN) | III | Crossover | 1, 2, 3
Dethloff et al..[92] (2008) | ESLD | 24 | RCT (LN) | III | 8 | 8 | 1, 2, 3, 4
Abbreviations; ACLF: Acute on chronic liver failure; ALF: Acute liver failure; ESLD: End-stage liver disease; RCT: Randomized controlled trial; RCT(LN): RCT, low number of patients; RCT (HN): RCT, high number of patients; HD: Hemodialysis; SMT: Standard medical treatment; 1: Survival/mortality; 2: Security; 3: Biochemical parameters; 4: hemodynamic parameters; 5: Clinical parameters.

Table 9: Survival with MARS Therapy  Study | Pathology | Controlled Study | Follow-up | Survival (%)

|
|
|
|

Faenza et al.[128] (2008) | ACLF | No | Bridging to LTx | 7/10 (70)
3 months | 2/6 (33)
Krisper et al.[129](2005) | ACLF | Yes (crossover) | 30 days | 4/9 (44)
Stadlbauer et al.[130] (2006) | ACLF | Yes (crossover) | 30 days | 4/8 (50)
Laleman et al.[88] (2006) | ACLF | Yes | 7 days | 6/6 (100)
Dethloff et al.[92] (2008) | ESLD | Yes | 6 months | 5/8 (63)
Abbreviations; ALF: Acute liver failure; ACLF: Acute on chronic liver failure; ESLD: End-stage liver disease; Not statistically significance.

Table 10: Mortality in Selected Studies  Study | N | Mortality

MARS (%)

| Mortality

Controls

| Time | Odds Ratio (OR)

|
|
|
|
|

Acute on Chronic Liver Failure
Mitzner et al.[93] | 13 | 63 | 100 | 7 days | 0.63
Heemann et al.[74] | 24 | 50 | 67 | 6 months | 0.75
Sen et al.[75] | 18 | 56 | 56 | 3 months | 1
Hassanein et al.[76] | 70 | 49 | 55 | NR | 0.89
Dethloff et al.[92] | 24 | 25 | 50 | 6 months | 0.50
Acute Liver Failure
Schmidt et al.[89] | 13 | 38 | 40 | NR | 0.94
El Banayosy et al.[103] | 27 | 50 | 69 | NR | 0.72
Abbreviations; NR: Not reported.

For patients diagnosed with acute on chronic liver failure and treated with MARS therapy, clinical trial results showed a not statistically significant reduction in mortality (odds ratio [OR] =0,78; confident interval [CI] =95%: 0,58 – 1,03; p= 0,1059, Figure 3)

border="0"

Figure 3: Meta-analysis showing the effect on survival of patients with ACLF treated with MARS therapy

A non-statistically significant reduction of mortality was shown in patients with ALF treated with MARS (OR = 0,75 [CI= 95%, 0,42 – 1,35]; p= 0,3427). (Figure 4)

border="0"

Figure 4. Meta-analysis showing the effect on survival of patients with ALF treated with MARS therapy.

Combined results yielded a non-significant reduction on mortality in patients treated with MARS therapy. However, the low number of patients included in each of the studies may be responsible for not being able to achieve enough statistical power to show differences between both treatment groups. Moreover, heterogeneity for the number of MARS sessions and severity of liver disease of the patients included, make it very difficult for the evaluation of MARS impact on survival.

Recently, a meta-analysis on survival in patients treated with an extra-hepatic therapy has been published.[131] Searching strategies yielded 74 clinical trials: 17 randomized controlled trials, 5 case control and 52 cohort studies. Eight studies were included in the meta-analysis: three addressing acute liver failure, one with MARS therapy[103] and five addressing acute on chronic, being four MARS related.[74][75][76][93] Authors concluded that extra-hepatic detoxifying systems improve survival for acute liver insufficiency, whereas results for acute decompensation of chronic liver diseases suggested a non significant survival benefit. Also, due to an increased demand for liver transplantation together with an augmented risk of liver failure following large resections, development of detoxifying extrahepatic systems are necessary.

### Safety Aspects

Safety, defined as presence of adverse events, is evaluated in few trials. Adverse events in patients receiving MARS therapy are similar to those in the controls with the exception of thrombocytopenia and hemorrhage that seems to occur more frequently with the MARS system.[132]

Heemann et al.[74] reported two adverse events most probably MARS related: fever and sepsis, presumably originated at the catheter.

In the study by Hassanein et al.,[76] two patients in the MARS group abandoned the study owing to hemodynamic instability, three patients required larger than average platelets transfusion and three more patients presented gastrointestinal bleeding.

Laleman et al..[88] detected one patient with thrombocytopenia in both the MARS and Prometheus treatment groups, and an additional patient with clotting of the dialysis circuit and hypotension, only in the Prometheus group.

Kramer et al.. (Biologic-DT)[77] wrote about 3 cases with disseminated intravascular coagulation in the interventional group, two of them with fatal outcomes.

Mitzner et al..[93] described, among patients treated with MARS, a thrombocytopenia case and a second patient with chronic hepatitis B, who underwent TIPS placement on day 44 after randomization and died on day 105 of multiorgan failure, as a consequence of complications related to the TIPS procedure.

Montejo et al..[104] showed that MARS is an easy technique, without serious adverse events related to the procedure, and also easy to implement in ICU settings that are used to renal extracorporeal therapies.

The MARS International Registry, with data from more than 500 patients (although sponsored by the manufacturer), shows that the adverse effects observed are similar to the control group. However, in these severely ill patients it is difficult to distinguish between complications of the disease itself and side effects attributable to the technique.

### Health Economics

Only three Studies addressing cost-effectivenenss of MARS therapy have been found. Hassanein et al.[133] analysed costs of randomized patients with ACLF receiving MARS therapy or standard medical care. They used the study published in 2001 by Kim et al.[134] describing the impact of complications in hospitalization costs in patients diagnosed with alcoholic liver failure. Cost of 11 patients treated with standard medical care (SMT) were compared to those that received MARS, in addition to SMT (12 patients). In the MARS group, there was less in-hospital mortality and complications related to the disease, with a remarkable reduction in cost which compensated the MARS related expenditure (Table 11).

Table 11. Analysis of Complications According to the Modality of treatment.  | MARS GROUP

n=12

| CONTROL GROUP

n=11

|
|

In-hospital mortality | 1/12 | 6/11
Worsening of hepatic encephalopathy (grade 4) | 0/12 | 3/11
Worsening of renal function (Hepatorenal Syndrome) | 1/12 | 7/11
Ascites | 0/12 | 1/11
Variceal bleeding | 0/12 | 1/11
Severe hypotension | 2/12 | 3/11
Electrolyte disorders | 4/12 | 10/11
Coagulopathy | 4/12 | 3/11

There were 5 survivors in the control group, with a cost per patient of $35.904, whereas in the MARS group, 11 patients out of 12 survived with a cost per patient of $32.036 which represents a $4000 savings per patient in favors of the MARS group. Hessel et al.[135] published a 3-year follow-up of a cohort of 79 patients with ACLF, of whom 33 received MARS treatments and 46 received SMT. Survival was 67% for the MARS group and 63% for the controls, that was reduced to 58 and 35% respectively at one year follow-up, and then 52 and 17% at three years.

Hospitalization costs for the MARS treated group were greater than that for the controls (€31,539 vs. €7,543) and similarly direct cost at 3-year follow-up (€8,493 vs. €5,194). Nevertheless, after adjusting mortality rate, the annual cost per patient was €12,092 for controls and €5,827 for MARS group; also in the latter, they found an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of 31.448 € per life-year gained (LYG) and an incremental costs per QALY gained of 47171 €.

Two years later, same authors published the results of 149 patients diagnosed with ACLF.[136] There were 67 patients (44,9%) treated with MARS and 82 patients (55,1%) were allocated to receive SMT. Mean survival time was 692 days in the MARS group (33% at 3 years) and 453 days in the controls (15% at 3 years); the results were significant (p=0,022). Differences in average cost was €19,853 (95% IC: 13.308-25.429): 35.639 € for MARS patients and 15.804 € for the control group. Incremental cost per LYG was 29.985 € (95% IC: 9.441-321.761) and €43,040 (95% IC: 13.551-461.856) per quality-adjusted life years (QALY).

Liver support systems, such as MARS, are very important to stabilize patients with acute or acute on chronic liver failure and avoid organ dysfunction, as well as a bridge-to-transplant. Although initial in-hospital costs are high, they are worth for the favorable outcome.

### MARS Therapy Indications

#### Acute on Chronic Liver Failure

Etiology:

* Chronic viral hepatitis[137]
* Alcoholic liver disease[138][139]
* Autoimmune disease[140]
* Metabolic disease such as hemochromatosis
* Idiopathic Cirrhosis

Goals of MARS Therapy

* Re-compensation of previous chronic state.
* Prolong survival time and bridge to urgent or elective transplant
* Pre-transplant optimization of the patient

MARS Therapy Indication

* Bilirubin > 15 mg/dL (255 μmol/L), not responding to standard medical care alter 3 days
* Renal dysfunction or hepatorenal syndrome.
* Hepatic encephalopathy ≥ II

Treatment Schedule:

* 3 to 5 eight-hour treatment sessions on consecutive days
* Continuous treatment with hemodynamic instability (in any case, treatment kit must be replaced every 24 hours)

#### Acute Liver failure

Etiology:

* Viral infection[65][89][141]
* Poisoning (paracetamol overdose, mushrooms)[124][142][143][144][145]
* Multiorgan dysfunction (severe sepsis)
* Vascular diseases (Budd Chiari syndrome)
* Hypoxic hepatitis[146]
* Liver failure during pregnancy or Reye syndrome
* Unknown etiology

Goals of MARS Therapy

* Native liver recovery.
* Bridging to liver transplant
* Pre-transplant optimization of the patient.

MARS Therapy Indication

* King's College or Clichy criteria for liver transplantation
* Hepatic encephalopathy ≥ II
* Increased intracranial pressure
* Acute hypoxic hepatitis with bilirubin > 8 mg/dL (100 μmol/L)
* Renal dysfunction or hepatorenal syndrome
* Progressive intrahepatic cholestasis
* Fulminant Wilson disease
* Acute liver dysfunction following paracetamol overdose

Treatment Schedule:

* 3 to 5 eight-hour treatment sessions in consecutives days
* Hypoxic hepatitis. 3 eight-hour treatment sessions in consecutives days
* Paracetamol overdose: 3 to 5 twenty four-hour treatment sessions
* Mushroom poisoning: 3 to 5 twenty four-hour treatment sessions
* Fulminant Wilson: minimum 5 twenty four-hour treatment sessions owing to copper saturation of the treatment kit
* Drug overdose: 3 to 5 eight-hour treatment sessions in consecutives days

#### MARS in Graft Dysfucntion After Liver Transplant

[147][148]

Etiology:

* Graft damage during preparation and transportation
* Infection
* Hepatotoxic drugs
* Graft rejection
* Technical complications (vascular, biliary)
* Recurrence of primary disease

Goals of MARS Therapy

* Recovery and prevention of re-transplantation
* • Prolong survival time and stabilize the patient to receive a re-transplant if the above goal is not achieved

MARS Therapy Indication

* Primary graft dysfunction
* Hepatic encephalopathy ≥ II
* Increased intracranial pressure
* Renal dysfunction or hepatorenal syndrome.
* Progressive intrahepatic cholestasis

Treatment Schedule:

* 3 to 5 eight-hour treatment sessions on consecutive days
* Continuous treatment with hemodynamic instability (in any case, treatment kit must be replaced every 24 hours)

#### MARS in liver Failure after Liver Surgery

[149]

Etiology:

* Liver Resection in hepatocellular carcinoma
* Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE)
* Partial resection in living donor transplantation
* Other surgical interventions

Goals of MARS Therapy

* Recovery until hepatic regeneration

MARS Therapy Indication

* Hepatic encephalopathy ≥ II
* Renal dysfunction or hepatorenal syndrome.
* Progressive intrahepatic cholestasis

Treatment Schedule:

* 3 to 5 eight-hour treatment sessions on consecutive days
* Continuous treatment with hemodynamic instability (in any case, treatment kit must be replaced every 24 hours)

#### MARS for intractable pruritus in Cholestasis

[97][137][140][150]

Etiology:

* Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)
* Benign intrahepatic cholestasis (BIC)
* Biliary Atresia

Goals of MARS Therapy

* Attenuate pruritus symptoms and improve patients' quality of life

MARS Therapy Indication

* Pruritus not responding to SMT

Treatment Schedule:

* 3 to 5 eight-hour treatment sessions in consecutives days
* Repeat treatment when symptoms reoccur

### MARS Therapy Contraindications

Same contraindications as with any other extracorporeal treatment may be applied to MARS therapy.

* Unstable hemodynamics with mean arterial pressure (MAP)< 55 mmHg despite vasoconstrictors administration
* Uncontrolled hemorrhage
* Severe coagulopathy
* Severe thrombocytopenia

### Treatment Parameters

Blood Flow

The trend is to use high flow rates, although it is determined by the technical specifications of the combined machine and catheters' size

Intermittent treatments:

* Without renal dysfunction, it is recommended a blood and albumin flow rates ranging from 150 to 250 mL/min

Continuous treatments:

* With or without renal impairment it is recommended to use flow rates from 100 to 150 mL/min.

Dyalisate Flow Rate

Intermittent treatments:

* Without renal impairment: 1800 a 3000 mL/hour
* With renal impairment: 3000 a 6000 mL/hour

Continuous treatments:

* Recommended flow rate: 1000 to 2000 mL/hour.

Replacement Flow Rate

* According to medical criteria and same as in CVVHD

Heparin Anticoagulation

Similarly to CVVHD, it depends on previous patient's coagulation status. In many cases it will not be needed, unless the patient presents a PTT inferior to 160 seconds. In patients with normal values, a bolus of 5000 to 10000 IU of heparin could be administered at the commencement of the treatment, followed by a continuous perfusion, to keep PTT in ratios from 1,5 to 2,5 or 160 to 180 seconds.

Monitoring

A biochemical analysis is recommended (liver and kidney profile, ionic, glucose) together with a hemogram at the end of first session and before starting the following one.

Coagulation analysis must be also performed before starting the session to adjusting heparin dose.

In case that medication susceptible to be eliminated by MARS is being administered, it is also recommended to monitor their levels in blood

End of the Session

* Once the treatment is finalized, blood should be returned following the unit procedure,

and both catheter's lumens heparinized

* For the next session a new kit must be used
* For continuous treatments, kit must be changed by a new one every 24 hours
* Treatment must be stopped before schedule owing to the particular circumstances listed below:

1. MAP inferior to 40 mmHg at least for 10 minutes
2. Air embolism of the extracorporeal circuit
3. Transmembrane pressure (TMP) greater than 600 mmHg.
4. Blood leak detection in the albumin circuit
5. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
6. Severe active hemorrhage

### FDA Clearance (US only)

Federal Drug Administration (FDA) cleared, in a document dated on May 27, 2005, MARS therapy for the treatment of drug overdose and poisoning. The only requirement is that the drug or poison must be susceptible to be dialysed and removed by activated charcoal or anionic exchange resins.

More recently, on December 17, 2012, MARS therapy has been cleared by the FDA for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy due to a decompensation of a chronic liver disease. Clinical trials conducted with MARS treatment in HE patients having a decompensation of chronic liver disease demonstrated a transient effect from MARS treatments to significantly decrease their hepatic encephalopathy scores by at least 2 grades compared to standard medical therapy (SMT).

The MARS is not indicated as a bridge to liver transplant. Safety and efficacy has not been demonstrated in controlled, randomized clinical trials.

The effectiveness of the MARS device in patients that are sedated could not be established in clinical studies and therefore cannot be predicted in sedated patients

## LiverNet

The LiverNet is a database dedicated to the liver diseases treated with the support of extracorporeal therapies. To date, the most currently used system is the Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System (MARS), which is based on the selective removal of albumin bound molecules and toxins from the blood in patients with acute and acute-on-chronic liver failure. The purpose is to register prospectively all patients treated worldwide with the MARS system in order to:

1. Improve our understanding of the clinical course, pathophysiology and treatment of these diseases
2. Evaluate the clinical impact of MARS therapy on the course of the disease in different specific indication
3. Increase the knowledge in this extremely innovative area, a basis for an improvement of liver support devices and the treatment of these patients in the next future

The liverNet is an eCRF database (www.livernet.net) using a SAS platform that allows major advantages for the centres including the automatic calculations of most liver rand ICU scoring systems, instant queries online, instant export of all patients included in the database of each centre to an Excel file for direct statistical analysis and finally instant online statistical analysis of selective data decided by the scientific committee. Therefore, the LiverNet is an important tool to progress in the knowledge of liver support therapies.

## See also

* American Society for Artificial Internal Organs
* Tissue engineering

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76. ↑ 76.0 76.1 76.2 76.3 76.4 76.5 76.6 "Randomized controlled study of extracorporeal albumin dialysis for hepatic encephalopathy in advanced cirrhosis.". Hepatology 46 (6): 1853–62. December 2007. doi:10.1002/hep.21930. PMID 17975845.
77. ↑ 77.0 77.1 Kramer, L; Gendo, A; Madl, C; Mullen, KD; Kaminski-Russ, K; Sunder-Plassmann, G; Schaffer, A; Bauer, E et al. (July 2001). "A controlled study of sorbent suspension dialysis in chronic liver disease and hepatic encephalopathy.". The International Journal of Artificial Organs 24 (7): 434–42. doi:10.1177/039139880102400707. PMID 11510914.
78. ↑ 78.0 78.1 Yuan, JZ; Ye, QF; Zhao, LL; Ming, YZ; Sun, H; Zhu, SH; Huang, ZF; Wang, MM (Aug 21, 2006). "Preoperative risk factor analysis in orthotopic liver transplantation with pretransplant artificial liver support therapy.". World Journal of Gastroenterology 12 (31): 5055–9. doi:10.3748/wjg.v12.i31.5055. PMID 16937506.
79. ↑ Gaspari, R; Cavaliere, F; Sollazzi, L; Perilli, V; Melchionda, I; Agnes, S; Gasbarrini, A; Avolio, AW (Jan–Feb 2009). "Molecular adsorbent recirculating system (Mars) in patients with primary nonfunction and other causes of graft dysfunction after liver transplantation in the era of extended criteria donor organs.". Transplantation Proceedings 41 (1): 253–8. doi:10.1016/j.transproceed.2008.10.066. PMID 19249528.
80. ↑ 80.0 80.1 "Molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) application in liver failure: clinical and hemodepurative results in 22 patients.". The International Journal of Artificial Organs 29 (2): 207–18. February 2006. doi:10.1177/039139880602900207. PMID 16552668.
81. ↑ 81.0 81.1 "Catholic university experience with molecular adsorbent recycling system in patients with severe liver failure.". Transplantation Proceedings 37 (6): 2547–50. Jul–Aug 2005. doi:10.1016/j.transproceed.2005.06.048. PMID 16182739.
82. ↑ 82.0 82.1 82.2 Hetz, H; Faybik, P; Berlakovich, G; Baker, A; Bacher, A; Burghuber, C; Sandner, SE; Steltzer, H et al. (September 2006). "Molecular adsorbent recirculating system in patients with early allograft dysfunction after liver transplantation: a pilot study.". Liver Transplantation 12 (9): 1357–64. doi:10.1002/lt.20804. PMID 16741899.
83. ↑ 83.0 83.1 83.2 Camus, C; Lavoué, S; Gacouin, A; Compagnon, P; Boudjéma, K; Jacquelinet, C; Thomas, R; Le Tulzo, Y (December 2009). "Liver transplantation avoided in patients with fulminant hepatic failure who received albumin dialysis with the molecular adsorbent recirculating system while on the waiting list: impact of the duration of therapy.". Therapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis 13 (6): 549–55. doi:10.1111/j.1744-9987.2009.00708.x. PMID 19954480.
84. ↑ Steiner, C; Mitzner, S (2002). "Experiences with MARS liver support therapy in liver failure: analysis of 176 patients of the International MARS Registry.". Liver 22 (Suppl 2): 20–5. doi:10.1034/j.1600-0676.2002.00003.x. PMID 12220298.
85. ↑ "Molecular adsorbent recirculating system dialysis in patients with acute liver failure who are assessed for liver transplantation.". Intensive Care Medicine 32 (11): 1817–25. November 2006. doi:10.1007/s00134-006-0340-1. PMID 16941171.
86. ↑ Parés, A; Deulofeu, R; Cisneros, L; Escorsell, A; Salmerón, JM; Caballería, J; Mas, A (2009). "Albumin dialysis improves hepatic encephalopathy and decreases circulating phenolic aromatic amino acids in patients with alcoholic hepatitis and severe liver failure.". Critical Care 13 (1): R8. doi:10.1186/cc7697. PMID 19175915.
87. ↑ 87.0 87.1 Mitzner, SR; Stange, J; Klammt, S; Peszynski, P; Schmidt, R; Nöldge-Schomburg, G (February 2001). "Extracorporeal detoxification using the molecular adsorbent recirculating system for critically ill patients with liver failure.". Journal of the American Society of Nephrology 12 (Suppl 17): S75–82. doi:10.1681/ASN.V12suppl_1s75. PMID 11251037.
88. ↑ 88.0 88.1 88.2 88.3 88.4 88.5 88.6 88.7 Laleman, W; Wilmer, A; Evenepoel, P; Elst, IV; Zeegers, M; Zaman, Z; Verslype, C; Fevery, J et al. (2006). "Effect of the molecular adsorbent recirculating system and Prometheus devices on systemic haemodynamics and vasoactive agents in patients with acute-on-chronic alcoholic liver failure.". Critical Care 10 (4): R108. doi:10.1186/cc4985. PMID 16859530.
89. ↑ 89.0 89.1 89.2 89.3 89.4 89.5 89.6 89.7 Schmidt, LE; Wang, LP; Hansen, BA; Larsen, FS (March 2003). "Systemic hemodynamic effects of treatment with the molecular adsorbents recirculating system in patients with hyperacute liver failure: a prospective controlled trial.". Liver Transplantation 9 (3): 290–7. doi:10.1053/jlts.2003.50051. PMID 12619027.
90. ↑ 90.0 90.1 Catalina, MV; Barrio, J; Anaya, F; Salcedo, M; Rincón, D; Clemente, G; Bañares, R (2003). "Hepatic and systemic haemodynamic changes after MARS in patients with acute on chronic liver failure.". Liver International 23 (Suppl 3): 39–43. doi:10.1034/j.1478-3231.23.s.3.10.x. PMID 12950960.
91. ↑ Parés, A; Escorsell, A; Cisneros, L (2002). "Effects of the molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) on vasoactive agents and systemic hemodynamics in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis". 4th ISAD 2002 Abstrac.
92. ↑ 92.0 92.1 92.2 92.3 92.4 92.5 92.6 Dethloff, T; Tofteng, F; Frederiksen, HJ; Hojskov, M; Hansen, BA; Larsen, FS (Apr 7, 2008). "Effect of Prometheus liver assist system on systemic hemodynamics in patients with cirrhosis: a randomized controlled study.". World Journal of Gastroenterology 14 (13): 2065–71. doi:10.3748/wjg.14.2065. PMID 18395908.
93. ↑ 93.00 93.01 93.02 93.03 93.04 93.05 93.06 93.07 93.08 93.09 "Improvement of hepatorenal syndrome with extracorporeal albumin dialysis MARS: results of a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial.". Liver Transplantation 6 (3): 277–86. May 2000. doi:10.1002/lt.500060326. PMID 10827226.
94. ↑ Arroyo, V (May 2000). "New treatments for hepatorenal syndrome.". Liver Transplantation 6 (3): 287–9. doi:10.1053/lv.2000.7569. PMID 10827227.
95. ↑ "Línsufissance rénale circulatoire spntané du cirrhotique. Son évolution.". Sem Hôp Paris 38: 3598–3602. 1962.
96. ↑ McIntyre, CW; Fluck, RJ; Freeman, JG; Lambie, SH (November 2002). "Characterization of treatment dose delivered by albumin dialysis in the treatment of acute renal failure associated with severe hepatic dysfunction.". Clinical Nephrology 58 (5): 376–83. doi:10.5414/CNP58376. PMID 12425489.
97. ↑ 97.0 97.1 Saich, R; Collins, P; Ala, A; Standish, R; Hodgson, H (May 2005). "Benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis with secondary renal impairment treated with extracorporeal albumin dialysis.". European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology 17 (5): 585–8. doi:10.1097/00042737-200505000-00018. PMID 15827452.
98. ↑ Cárdenas, A; Ginès, P (June 2006). "Therapy insight: Management of hepatorenal syndrome.". Nature Clinical Practice Gastroenterology & Hepatology 3 (6): 338–48. doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep0517. PMID 16741553.
99. ↑ Moreau, R; Lebrec, D (2007). "Diagnosis and treatment of acute renal failure in patients with cirrhosis.". Best Practice & Research. Clinical Gastroenterology 21 (1): 111–23. doi:10.1016/j.bpg.2006.10.004. PMID 17223500.
100. ↑ Wong, F (January 2007). "Drug insight: the role of albumin in the management of chronic liver disease.". Nature Clinical Practice Gastroenterology & Hepatology 4 (1): 43–51. doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep0680. PMID 17203088.
101. ↑ 101.0 101.1 Khuroo, MS; Khuroo, MS; Farahat, KL (September 2004). "Molecular adsorbent recirculating system for acute and acute-on-chronic liver failure: a meta-analysis.". Liver Transplantation 10 (9): 1099–106. doi:10.1002/lt.20139. PMID 15349999.
102. ↑ Wong, F; Raina, N; Richardson, R (March 2010). "Molecular adsorbent recirculating system is ineffective in the management of type 1 hepatorenal syndrome in patients with cirrhosis with ascites who have failed vasoconstrictor treatment.". Gut 59 (3): 381–6. doi:10.1136/gut.2008.174615. PMID 19710033.
103. ↑ 103.0 103.1 103.2 103.3 103.4 103.5 103.6 El Banayosy, A; Kizner, L; Schueler, V; Bergmeier, S; Cobaugh, D; Koerfer, R (Jul–Aug 2004). "First use of the Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System technique on patients with hypoxic liver failure after cardiogenic shock.". ASAIO Journal 50 (4): 332–7. doi:10.1097/01.MAT.0000131251.88146.CD. PMID 15307543.
104. ↑ 104.0 104.1 104.2 104.3 "Artificial liver support system in acute liver failure patients waiting liver transplantation.". Hepato-gastroenterology 56 (90): 456–61. Mar–Apr 2009. PMID 19579620.
105. ↑ Stadlbauer, V; Krisper, P; Beuers, U; Haditsch, B; Schneditz, D; Jung, A; Putz-Bankuti, C; Holzer, H et al. (Mar–Apr 2007). "Removal of bile acids by two different extracorporeal liver support systems in acute-on-chronic liver failure.". ASAIO Journal 53 (2): 187–93. doi:10.1097/01.mat.0000249852.71634.6c. PMID 17413559.
106. ↑ Lebovics, E; Seif, F; Kim, D; Elhosseiny, A; Dworkin, BM; Casellas, A; Clark, S; Rosenthal, WS (May 1997). "Pruritus in chronic hepatitis C: association with high serum bile acids, advanced pathology, and bile duct abnormalities.". Digestive Diseases and Sciences 42 (5): 1094–9. doi:10.1023/A:1018865809556. PMID 9149069.
107. ↑ Jones, EA; Bergasa, NV (Dec 16, 1992). "The pruritus of cholestasis and the opioid system.". JAMA 268 (23): 3359–62. doi:10.1001/jama.1992.03490230089034. PMID 1333541.
108. ↑ Bergasa, NV; Thomas, DA; Vergalla, J; Turner, ML; Jones, EA (1993). "Plasma from patients with the pruritus of cholestasis induces opioid receptor-mediated scratching in monkeys.". Life Sciences 53 (16): 1253–7. doi:10.1016/0024-3205(93)90569-o. PMID 8412484.
109. ↑ "Factors associated with poor health-related quality of life of patients with cirrhosis.". Gastroenterology 120 (1): 170–8. January 2001. doi:10.1053/gast.2001.21193. PMID 11208726.
110. ↑ Younossi, ZM; Kiwi, ML; Boparai, N; Price, LL; Guyatt, G (February 2000). "Cholestatic liver diseases and health-related quality of life.". The American Journal of Gastroenterology 95 (2): 497–502. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2000.01774.x. PMID 10685757.
111. ↑ Huster, D; Schubert, C; Achenbach, H; Caca, K; Mössner, J; Berr, F (June 2001). "Successful clinical application of extracorporal albumin dialysis in a patient with benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis (BRIC).". Zeitschrift für Gastroenterologie 39 (Suppl 2): 13–4. doi:10.1055/s-2001-919024. PMID 16215886.
112. ↑ 112.0 112.1 De Simone, P; Van Nuffelen, M; Donckier, V (September 2003). "Use of molecular adsorbent recirculating system for treatment of refractory pruritus.". Liver Transplantation 9 (9): 997–8. doi:10.1002/lt.500090918. PMID 12942466.
113. ↑ Mullhaupt, B; Kullak-Ublick, GA; Ambühl, PM; Stocker, R; Renner, EL (April 2003). "Successful use of the Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System (MARS) in a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and treatment refractory pruritus.". Hepatology Research 25 (4): 442–446. doi:10.1016/s1386-6346(02)00310-8. PMID 12699855.
114. ↑ 114.0 114.1 Macia, M; Avilés, J; Navarro, J; Morales, S; García, J (January 2003). "Efficacy of molecular adsorbent recirculating system for the treatment of intractable pruritus in cholestasis.". The American Journal of Medicine 114 (1): 62–4. doi:10.1016/s0002-9343(02)01354-2. PMID 12543292.
115. ↑ Majcher-Peszynska, J; P. Peszynki; SC Müller (2001). "Drugs in Liver Disease and During Albumin Dialysis-MARS". Z Gastroenterol 39: 33–35. doi:10.1055/s-2001-919048. PMID 16215894.
116. ↑ Majcher-Peszynska, J; T. Schneider; S. Müller; P. Peszynski; R. Mundowski; A. Berg; S. Klammt; B. Drewelow (2002). "Elimination of Fluoroquinolones during Extracorporeal Albumin Dialysis (MARS)". 4th ISAD (Abstracts).
117. ↑ Majcher-Peszynska, J; S. Klammt; EM. Hehk (2000). "Removal of Albumin Bound Drugs in Albumin Dialysis (MARS)- A New Liver Support System". J. Hepatol.. Suppl. 2 32: 60. doi:10.1016/s0168-8278(00)80562-0.
118. ↑ Pszynski, PM; J. Majcher-Pszynska; J. Stangeet (2000). "Kinetics of Drugs During MARS Treatment". Hepatology 32: 484A. doi:10.1002/hep.1840380507.
119. ↑ Liu, JP; Gluud, LL; Als-Nielsen, B; Gluud, C (2004). "Artificial and bioartificial support systems for liver failure". Cochrane Database Syst Rev 1 (1). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003628.pub2. PMID 14974025.
120. ↑ Kjaergard, LL; Liu, J; Als-Nielsen, B; Gluud, C (2003). "Artificial and bioartificial support systems for acute and acute-on-chronic liver failure: a systematic review". JAMA 289 (2): 217–222. doi:10.1001/jama.289.2.217. PMID 12517233.
121. ↑ Saliba, F et al. (2008). "Randomized controlled multicenter trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of albumin dialysis with MARS in patients with fulminant and subfulminant hepatic failure". Hepatology 48 (4 (Suppl 1)): 377A. doi:10.1002/hep.22615.
122. ↑ Lai, WK et al. (2005). "The effect of molecular adsorbent recirculating system on pathophysiological parameters in patients with acute liver failure". Intensive Care Med 31 (11): 1544–1549. doi:10.1007/s00134-005-2786-y. PMID 16155752.
123. ↑ Lee, KH et al. (2005). "Outcome from molecular adsorbent recycling system (MARS) liver dialysis following drug-induced liver failure". Liver Int 25 (5): 973–977. doi:10.1111/j.1478-3231.2005.01091.x. PMID 16162155.
124. ↑ 124.0 124.1 Zhou, XM et al. (2004). "Clinical experience with molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) in patients with drug-induced liver failure". Artificial Organs 28 (5): 483–486. doi:10.1046/j.1525-1594.2003.00953.x-i1. PMID 15113343.
125. ↑ Kantola, T et al. (2008). "The effect of molecular adsorbent recirculating system on survival, native liver recovery, and need for liver transplantation in acute liver failure patients". Transpl Int 21 (9): 857–866. doi:10.1111/j.1432-2277.2008.00698.x. PMID 18510596.
126. ↑ Camus, C et al. (2009). "Liver transplantation avoided in patients with fulminant hepatic failure who received albumin dialysis with the molecular adsorbent recirculating system while on the waiting list: impact of the duration of therapy". Ther Apher Dial 13 (6): 549–555. doi:10.1111/j.1744-9987.2009.00708.x. PMID 19954480.
127. ↑ Evenepoel, P; Laleman, W; Wilmer, A; Claes, K; Kuypers, D; Bammens, B; Nevens, F; Vanrenterghem, Y (Apr 2006). "Prometheus versus molecular adsorbents recirculating system: comparison of efficiency in two different liver detoxification devices.". Artificial Organs 30 (4): 276–84. doi:10.1111/j.1525-1594.2006.00215.x. PMID 16643386.
128. ↑ 128.0 128.1 "Mars and Prometheus: our clinical experience in acute chronic liver failure.". Transplantation Proceedings 40 (4): 1169–71. May 2008. doi:10.1016/j.transproceed.2008.03.069. PMID 18555140.
129. ↑ 129.0 129.1 Krisper, P; Haditsch, B; Stauber, R; Jung, A; Stadlbauer, V; Trauner, M; Holzer, H; Schneditz, D (Sep 2005). "In vivo quantification of liver dialysis: comparison of albumin dialysis and fractionated plasma separation.". Journal of Hepatology 43 (3): 451–7. doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2005.02.038. PMID 16023249.
130. ↑ 130.0 130.1 Stadlbauer, V; Krisper, P; Aigner, R; Haditsch, B; Jung, A; Lackner, C; Stauber, RE (2006). "Effect of extracorporeal liver support by MARS and Prometheus on serum cytokines in acute-on-chronic liver failure.". Critical Care 10 (6): R169. doi:10.1186/cc5119. PMID 17156425.
131. ↑ Stutchfield, BM; Simpson, K; Wigmore, SJ (May 2011). "Systematic review and meta-analysis of survival following extracorporeal liver support.". The British Journal of Surgery 98 (5): 623–31. doi:10.1002/bjs.7418. PMID 21462172.
132. ↑ Mitzner, SR; Stange, J; Klammt, S; Koball, S; Hickstein, H; Reisinger, EC (Sep–Oct 2009). "Albumin dialysis MARS: knowledge from 10 years of clinical investigation.". ASAIO Journal 55 (5): 498–502. doi:10.1097/mat.0b013e3181b37d86. PMID 19730006.
133. ↑ Hassanein, T; Oliver, D; Stange, J; Steiner, C (2003). "Albumin dialysis in cirrhosis with superimposed acute liver injury: possible impact of albumin dialysis on hospitalization costs.". Liver International 23 (Suppl 3): 61–5. doi:10.1034/j.1478-3231.23.s.3.6.x. PMID 12950963.
134. ↑ "Outcome of hospital care of liver disease associated with hepatitis C in the United States.". Hepatology 33 (1): 201–6. Jan 2001. doi:10.1053/jhep.2001.20798. PMID 11124837.
135. ↑ Hessel, FP (Oct 5, 2006). "Economic evaluation of the artificial liver support system MARS in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure.". Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation 4: 16. doi:10.1186/1478-7547-4-16. PMID 17022815.
136. ↑ Hessel, FP; Bramlage, P; Wasem, J; Mitzner, SR (Feb 2010). "Cost-effectiveness of the artificial liver support system MARS in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure.". European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology 22 (2): 213–20. doi:10.1097/meg.0b013e3283314e48. PMID 19773666.
137. ↑ 137.0 137.1 Doria, C; Mandalá, L; Smith, J; Vitale, CH; Lauro, A; Gruttadauria, S; Marino, IR; Foglieni, CS et al. (Apr 2003). "Effect of molecular adsorbent recirculating system in hepatitis C virus-related intractable pruritus.". Liver Transplantation 9 (4): 437–43. doi:10.1053/jlts.2003.50055. PMID 12682899.
138. ↑ Sen, S; Mookerjee, RP; Cheshire, LM; Davies, NA; Williams, R; Jalan, R (Jul 2005). "Albumin dialysis reduces portal pressure acutely in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis.". Journal of Hepatology 43 (1): 142–8. doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2005.01.032. PMID 15878216.
139. ↑ Jalan, R; Sen, S; Steiner, C; Kapoor, D; Alisa, A; Williams, R (Jan 2003). "Extracorporeal liver support with molecular adsorbents recirculating system in patients with severe acute alcoholic hepatitis.". Journal of Hepatology 38 (1): 24–31. doi:10.1016/s0168-8278(02)00334-3. PMID 12480556.
140. ↑ 140.0 140.1 Manz, T; Ochs, A; Bisse, E; Strey, C; Grotz, W (2003). "Liver support--a task for nephrologists? Extracorporeal treatment of a patient with fulminant Wilson crisis.". Blood Purification 21 (3): 232–6. doi:10.1159/000070695. PMID 12784049.
141. ↑ Chen, S; Zhang, L; Shi, Y; Yang, X; Wang, M (2002). "Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System: clinical experience in patients with liver failure based on hepatitis B in China.". Liver 22 (Suppl 2): 48–51. doi:10.1034/j.1600-0676.2002.00009.x. PMID 12220304.
142. ↑ Sen, S; Ytrebø, LM; Rose, C; Fuskevaag, OM; Davies, NA; Nedredal, GI; Williams, R; Revhaug, A et al. (Mar 2004). "Albumin dialysis: a new therapeutic strategy for intoxication from protein-bound drugs.". Intensive Care Medicine 30 (3): 496–501. doi:10.1007/s00134-003-2141-0. PMID 14735236.
143. ↑ Koivusalo, AM; Yildirim, Y; Vakkuri, A; Lindgren, L; Höckerstedt, K; Isoniemi, H (Oct 2003). "Experience with albumin dialysis in five patients with severe overdoses of paracetamol.". Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica 47 (9): 1145–50. doi:10.1034/j.1399-6576.2003.00190.x. PMID 12969110.
144. ↑ Rubik, J; Pietraszek-Jezierska, E; Kamiński, A; Skarzynska, A; Jóźwiak, S; Pawłowska, J; Drewniak, T; Prokurat, S et al. (Jun 2004). "Successful treatment of a child with fulminant liver failure and coma caused by Amanita phalloides intoxication with albumin dialysis without liver transplantation.". Pediatric Transplantation 8 (3): 295–300. doi:10.1111/j.1399-3046.2004.00170.x. PMID 15176968.
145. ↑ Covic, A; Goldsmith, DJ; Gusbeth-Tatomir, P; Volovat, C; Dimitriu, AG; Cristogel, F; Bizo, A (2003). "Successful use of Molecular Absorbent Regenerating System (MARS) dialysis for the treatment of fulminant hepatic failure in children accidentally poisoned by toxic mushroom ingestion.". Liver International 23 (Suppl 3): 21–7. doi:10.1034/j.1478-3231.23.s.3.9.x. PMID 12950957.
146. ↑ Faybik, P; Hetz, H; Krenn, CG; Baker, A; Germann, P; Berlakovich, G; Steininger, R; Steltzer, H (Sep 15, 2003). "Liver support in fulminant liver failure after hemorrhagic shock.". Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift 115 (15–16): 595–8. doi:10.1007/bf03040455. PMID 14531174.
147. ↑ Lahdenperä, A; Koivusalo, AM; Vakkuri, A; Höckerstedt, K; Isoniemi, H (Jan 2005). "Value of albumin dialysis therapy in severe liver insufficiency.". Transplant International 17 (11): 717–23. doi:10.1111/j.1432-2277.2004.tb00500.x. PMID 15580335.
148. ↑ Hommann, M; Kasakow, LB; Geoghegan, J; Kornberg, A; Schotte, U; Fuchs, D; Hermann, J; Zintl, F et al. (Aug 2002). "Application of MARS artificial liver support as bridging therapy before split liver retransplantation in a 15-month-old child.". Pediatric Transplantation 6 (4): 340–3. doi:10.1034/j.1399-3046.2002.02007.x. PMID 12234277.
149. ↑ "MARS treatment in posthepatectomy liver failure.". Liver International 23 (Suppl 3): 44–51. 2003. doi:10.1034/j.1478-3231.23.s.3.2.x. PMID 12950961.
150. ↑ Parés, A; Cisneros, L; Salmerón, JM; Caballería, L; Mas, A; Torras, A; Rodés, J (Jun 2004). "Extracorporeal albumin dialysis: a procedure for prolonged relief of intractable pruritus in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.". The American Journal of Gastroenterology 99 (6): 1105–10. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2004.30204.x. PMID 15180733.

## Further reading

* "Artificial liver support systems". J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 36 (5): 1164–1179. September 2020. doi:10.1111/jgh.15255. PMID 32918840.
* "Emerging indications for albumin dialysis". Am. J. Gastroenterol. 100 (2): 468–75. February 2005. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2005.40864.x. PMID 15667509.
* "Detoxifying capacity and kinetics of the molecular adsorbent recycling system. Contribution of the different inbuilt filters". Blood Purif. 21 (3): 244–52. 2003. doi:10.1159/000070697. PMID 12784051.
* "[Extracorporeal blood purification in severe liver failure with the albumin dialysis MARS – impact on relevant intensive care parameters]" (in German). Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther 40 (4): 199–206. April 2005. doi:10.1055/s-2004-826116. PMID 15832238.

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