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.