Extracorporeal blood purification for acute liver failure in children

Pediatric acute liver failure has a high mortality.Liver transplantation is the only definite treatment.Extracorporeal liver support can be employed as a strategy for bridging to transplantation or recovery.There are three types of device for temporary support:biological,non-biological (also called artificial) and bio-artificial (hybrid techniques).Early non-biological device including hemodialysis,hemoperfusion/plasma perfusion and plasmapheresis have improved biochemical efficacy,but there are little data for clinical end points.Continuous blood purification and the combination of various non-biological methods such as the molecular adsorbent recirculatory system and Prometheus(R) are new extracorporeal blood purification therapy.The results of many experimental and clinical trials have improved the efficacy of the above mentioned methods. Key words: Extracorporeal blood purification; Artificial liver; Acute liver failure