Artificial liver support systems: what is new over the last decade?

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Artificial Organ Development

Background:

• Liver failure presents critical risks due to the organ's vital functions.
• Artificial liver support systems emerged as bridge-to-transplant or bridge-to-recovery therapies.
• Established systems include MARS™, Single-Pass Albumin Dialysis, and Prometheus™.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review advancements in artificial liver support systems over the last decade.
• To discuss the current capabilities and limitations of these devices.
• To explore future prospects for artificial liver technology.

Main Methods:

• Review of experimental works and clinical applications of artificial liver support systems.
• Analysis of published data on patient treatments and outcomes.
• Evaluation of the progress and challenges in bioartificial systems.

Main Results:

• Artificial liver support systems demonstrate efficacy in partially replacing liver detoxification.
• Correction of biochemical parameters has been observed in treated patients.
• Bioartificial systems face developmental hurdles and high costs, impacting synthesis and regulation.

Conclusions:

• Artificial liver support systems offer partial detoxification but require further development for complex liver functions.
• Clinical data on survival benefits remain inconclusive.
• Future research should focus on improving bioartificial systems and clarifying clinical impact.