Soluble liver extract as supplement to detoxification by hemoperfusion in liver failure.

Charcoal hemoperfusion has been effective in reversing grade IV hepatic encephalopathy in patients. In animal studies essential factors have to be added to result in significant increase in the survival rate of grade III coma rats treated by hemoperfusion. In the present study, a water soluble liver extract was prepared and injected intraperitoneally into fulminant hepatic failure rats in grade II hepatic coma. This significantly (p less than 0.001) increased the survival time in these animals. However, no significant increase in survival rate was obtained. We were also able to significantly (p less than 0.0005) control gastrointestinal bleeding in the treated rats. We postulate that this supplementation of essential factors in combination with detoxification using hemoperfusion could form the basis of a more complete artificial liver support system.