Extracorporeal hemoperfusion as an adjunctive therapy for liver failure

Liver failure, whether due to alcoholic liver disease or hepatic malignancy, often leads to acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), necessitating liver transplantation. A major challenge in managing these patients is the acute decompensation phase, during which hepatic toxins and inflammatory mediators accumulate, resulting in multi-system dysfunction. While liver transplantation remains the most effective treatment, artificial liver support systems, particularly extracorporeal blood purification, offer potential benefits. Hemoperfusion, utilizing solute adsorption via a solid agent, provides an alternative to conventional dialysis, which is limited by membrane permeability. In this case series, we report our experience using HA330 hemoperfusion in combination with standard therapy for liver failure patients treated at our single-center hospital from 2023 to 2024. Extracorporeal blood purification with an adsorptive cartridge (HA330, Jafron, China) was employed as an adjunctive strategy to standard care. Our findings suggest that hemoperfusion may serve as a valuable supportive therapy for liver failure patients requiring transplantation. However, larger cohort studies are necessary to confirm its safety and efficacy.