[Treatment of fulminant hepatitis with highly reliable artificial liver support and administration of interferon]

We treated 10 patients with viral fulminant hepatitis (FH) and subacute hepatitis (SH) by highly reliable artificial liver support (ALS), the combination of plasma exchange (PE) and hemodiafiltration (HDF) using polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) membrane. All patients regained clear consciousness by the ALS. Even the patients with long term hepatic failure up to for 108 days were sustained in a favorable clinical condition. Five patients finally survived. Interferon was administered to one case with type B FH with positive HBeAg, four cases with NANB FH and SH who were assumed to have persistent viral replication. Two of them showed favorable clinical responses and definite liver regeneration was confirmed. The intensive liver support which can sustain patient with severe fulminant hepatic failure accompanied by the administration interferon is believed to be the most effective treatment for FH and SH especially caused by NANB virus in our country.