Artificial liver using human liver cells may extend lives
15 June 2009
The first artificial organ for liver patients that uses immortalized
human liver cells, the Extracorporeal Liver Assist Device (ELAD), is
undergoing clinical trials in the US. ELAD, which is produced by San
Diego-based Vital Therapies, is a bedside system that treats blood
plasma, metabolizing toxins and synthesizing proteins like a real liver.
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/ Columbia University Medical Center is
currently one of only a small number of hospitals in the US offering
this therapy to acute liver failure patients as part of the ongoing
clinical trials.
"These studies are looking at how well the system can extend
patients' lives until a liver transplant becomes available. We're also
interested to see if it can relieve the burden on the patient's liver
enough so that it can regenerate and regain some of its function," says
Dr Robert Brown, site principal investigator, chief of the Division of
Abdominal Organ Transplantation, and director of the Center for Liver
Disease and Transplantation at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia
University Medical Center. Dr Brown is also the Frank Cardile Professor
of Medicine and Pediatrics (in Surgery) at Columbia University College
of Physicians and Surgeons.
The ongoing studies look at whether ELAD liver support improves
survival compared with standard medical therapy. Patients are randomly
assigned to receive either standard medical therapy plus the ELAD
system, or standard medical therapy alone.
Patients eligible for the study have life-threatening acute liver
failure, often due to an infection. Another trial open to patients with
liver failure due to drug overdose without underlying liver disease is
expected to begin enrollment later this year.
The current trials expand on prior results from Phase 1 and 2 trials
in the US and UK, and a pivotal, randomized, controlled clinical trial
at two sites in China during 2006 and 2007. In the latter study, 69
patients with hepatitis B or C who had suffered ALF were treated with
either ELAD or standard therapy. Thirty-day transplant-free survival
rates were statistically higher in the ELAD group compared with the
control.
Artificial livers have been attempted since the 1960s. Because
previous designs didn't use human liver cells, they couldn't adequately
filter toxins or create chemicals essential to metabolism and
blood-clotting.
With the ELAD system, four 12-inch cartridges containing cells
derived from human liver cells and fibres are mounted on a standard
blood-pumping unit. The patient's blood plasma flows inside of hollow
fibres to allow appropriate two-way transfer of metabolites across the
fibre membrane.
Liver transplantation is limited by the supply of donor livers.
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), there were
approximately 6,500 liver transplants performed in 2007; however, there
are more than 16,000 patients on the waiting list. Each year only about
one-third of those who need a donor liver will receive one, and many
patients die while waiting.
Acute liver failure afflicts more than 30,000 Americans each year,
including those with chronic liver diseases like hepatitis, as well as
those whose livers were damaged, such as by taking too much
acetaminophen pain medicine. If not treated effectively and promptly —
usually by transplantation — patients experience organ failure,
bleeding, coma and death. When a donor organ isn't available or if the
patient is too sick for surgery, ELAD could be their only option.
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