[Kidney and liver support therapies: state-of-the-art methods]

Today, worldwide approximately 1.5 million uremic patients owe their lives to hemodialysis. This figure will increase further by a growth rate of 6% annually reflecting a necessary increasing high interest in innovative technologies as well as in individualized therapies in this area. The main focus of developmental efforts, today and in the future, is to adapt the therapy to the specific physiological conditions of kidney patients, e.g., by means of a precise control of body water and its removal. This can be precisely monitored by bioimpedance analyses. Liver patients also benefit from the experiences with extracorporeal blood circuits. In contrast to hemodialysis, protein-permeable membranes are applied which allow for the removal of albumin-bound toxins. Albumin is then cleansed in the secondary circuit by adsorber cartridges and then readministered to the patient leading to improved recovery. This short review summarizes the state-of-the-art of blood purification methods in hemodialysis and liver support therapies.