AUGUST 13, 2015
Researchers are testing an alternative to liver transplantation that supports healing and regeneration of the injured liver. Photo: TNS
For people who experience acute liver failure, the only proven treatment has been liver transplantation.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic in the US have developed and are testing an alternative to liver transplantation called the Spheroid Reservoir Bioartificial Liver that can support healing and regeneration of the injured liver, and improve outcomes and reduce mortality rates for patients with acute liver failure – without requiring a transplant.
Developed by Dr Scott L. Nyberg, principal investigator in the Artificial Liver and Liver Transplantation Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, and liver transplant surgeon, the device uses healthy hepatocytes, or liver cells, from pigs to do the job of a normal, healthy liver, which aids in digestion and the removal of waste and toxins from the bloodstream.
Treatment with the Spheroid Reservoir Bioartificial Liver (SRBAL) has been shown to reduce the severity of liver disease and improve survival in pigs.
Future clinical studies are planned to assess the SRBAL as a less-invasive, long-term treatment option to liver transplantation.
Results from a study using the device in a pivotal preclinical trial were published a few days ago in the Journal of Hepatology.
“Acute liver failure claims the lives of over 30% of people who are diagnosed with this condition. Liver transplantation has been the go-to option for treating acute liver failure, but it also comes with many risks and isn’t always an option, due to compatibility and availability of donor livers,” says Dr Nyberg.
“A bioartificial liver device could allow physicians to treat and extend the lives of more patients, safely and cost-effectively, with fewer risks.”
“This study demonstrated that animals treated using the bioartificial liver responded to the healthy hepatocytes and reached the study end-point with less disease severity than animals that received other forms of treatment,” said Dr Nyberg. “Although the artificial liver is not yet cleared for use on humans, these findings show promise as an effective treatment option for diseases like liver cancer and hepatitis, which is becoming an increasingly common diagnosis.” – Mayo Clinic News Network/Tribune News Service
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