Transcript medications

Liver Dialysis: Molecular Adsorbents
Recirculation System
Katie Brown
Bme 281
11/27/2012
Problem Being Solved
 Liver Failure is caused by:

Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Long term alcohol consumption,
Cirrhosis, Hemochromatosis, Malnutrition, Acetaminophen
(Tylenol) overdose, reactions to certain prescription and
herbal medications, Ingestion of poisonous wild mushrooms
 2000 people die each year while waiting for a liver
transplant
History of Liver Transplants
 1728-John hunter, a Scottish surgeon, performed
animal transplants and tooth transplants
 1890-Matheui Jaboulay discovers vascular
anastomosis with everting sutures
 1901- Alexis Carrol implemented animal organ
transplant using a triangulating vessel technique
History (cont)
 1963-Tom Starzl performed the first liver
transplantation
 1970’s-Starzl and other surgeons 100 executed
transplantations with 30% success
 1996-Stanford split liver transplant
 2004- Germany has developed MARS – Molecular
Absorbent Recirculating System
Liver
 Has many functions making it one of the most
important organs in the body

processes digested food from the intestine controlling levels of
fats, amino acids and glucose in the blood

combating infections in the body clearing the blood of
particles and infections

manufacturing bile

stores iron, vitamins and other essential chemicals

makes enzymes and proteins
Current State: Molecular Adsorbents
Recirculation System, or MARS
 The closest we are to a “artificial liver”
 Cannot replace a liver, but is a bridge between liver
failure and transplant
 How it works

Transports a patient's blood to a filter

Mixed with a sticky protein called albumin.

Toxins in the blood attach to the albumin molecules, which
then carry the poisons out of the blood
Limitations
 Is not permanent – do not replace liver
 Only last for a short period of time
 In hospital
 May have complications-infections
 Cost for a seven hour treatment € 300 for 600 ml
human serum albumin solution (20%), € 1740 for a
MARS treatment kit and € 125 disposables used by
the dialysis machine have to be spent
Future
 More like a liver
 Lower Cost
 Longer lasting
 Portable
 “artificial liver”
Works Cited
 Busuttil RW, Goss JA. Split liver transplantation.
Ann Surg. 1999;229:313–321.
 Khuroo MS, Farahat KL. Molecular adsorbent
recirculating system for acute and acute-on-chronic
liver failure: a meta-analysis. Liver Transpl 2004;
10: 1099-1106.
 Johnson, Kimball. "Liver Failure." Web MD. Web
MD, 11 2012. Web. 20 Nov 2012.
 Cohen, Jamie. "New Artificial Liver Shows Promise."
ABC News. ABC News, 17 2012. Web. 20 Nov 2012.