Neurological improvement during bioartificial liver sessions in patients with acute liver failure awaiting transplantation.

Background: Brain edema is the main cause of death in acute liver failure patients awaiting transplantation. We assessed the HepatAssist 2000, a liver-assist system containing porcine hepatocytes, as a bridge to transplantation in patients with acute liver failure.

Methods: Thirteen patients suffering from acute liver failure with criteria for transplantation entered an open baseline-controlled study, with liver-assist treatment sessions at 24-hr intervals until transplantation.