Effect of extracorporeal bioartificial liver support system on fulminant hepatic failure rabbits

AIM To evaluate the possibility of usingcultured human hepatocytes as a bridge betweenbioartificial liver and liver transplantation.METHODS In this experiment,the efficacy ofextracorporeal bioartificial liver support system(EBLSS)consisting of spheriodal human livercells and cultured hepatocytes supernatant wasassessed in vivo using galactosamine inducedrabbit model of fulminant hepatic failure.RESULTS There was no difference of survivalbetween the two groups of rabbits,but in thesupported rabbits serum alanineaminotransferase,total bilirubin and creatininewere significantly lower and hepatocyte necrosiswas markedly milder than those in controlanimals.In addition,a good viability of humanliver cells was noted after the experiment.CONCLUSION EBLSS plays a biologic role inmaintaining and compensating the function ofthe liver.