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Updated: May 22, 2026

Generation of a Rat Model of Acute Liver Failure by Combining 70% Partial Hepatectomy and Acetaminophen
Published on: November 27, 2019
Randomized controlled study of plasma exchange combined with molecular adsorbent re-circulating system for the
Yu-Kun Huang1, De-Ming Tan, Yu-Tao Xie
1Department of Infectious Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Background/Aims:
To evaluate the use of plasma exchange (PE) combined with the molecular adsorbent re-circulating system (MARS) for the treatment of liver failure complicated with hepatic encephalopathy.
Methodology:
A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted to compare the therapeutic effect of MARS treatment (MARS group, n=60) with that of PE combined with MARS treatment (PE+MARS group, n=60) in patients with liver failure complicated with hepatic encephalopathy.
Results:
The serum total bilirubin and blood ammonia levels were significantly decreased compared with pretreatment levels after 3 days of both the MARS treatment (p=0.0001, p<0.001) and PE+MARS treatment (both p<0.0001) and the Glasgow coma scale score was significantly increased (both p<0.0001). The 30-day mortality rate was 10.0% (6/60) in the MARS group and 11.7% (7/60) in the PE + MARS group. The per capita cost of treatment was significantly lower in the PE + MARS group than in the MARS group (p=0.0003).
Conclusions:
Both MARS and PE + MARS therapy can safely and effectively be used to treat liver failure complicated with hepatic encephalopathy, but PE + MARS therapy reduces serum total bilirubin level more effectively and is more cost-effective.
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