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Bioartificial Liver Device
A liver support system or diachysis is a type of therapeutic device to assist in performing the functions of the liver. Such systems focus either on removing the accumulating toxins (liver dialysis), or providing additional replacement of the metabolic functions of the liver through the inclusion of hepatocytes to the device (bioartificial liver device). This system is in trial to help people with acute liver failure (ALF) or acute-on-chronic liver failure. The primary functions of the liver include removing toxic substances from the blood, manufacturing blood proteins, storing energy in the form of glycogen, and secreting bile. The hepatocytes that perform these tasks can be killed or impaired by disease, resulting in hepatic insufficiency. A sudden onset of life-threatening hepatic insufficiency is known as acute liver failure (ALF). Etymology * The word diachysis derives from the Greek language, Greek word, διάχυσησ, which means "Diffusion" * The word dialysis derives f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Acute Liver Failure
Acute liver failure is the appearance of severe complications rapidly after the first signs (such as jaundice) of liver disease, and indicates that the liver has sustained severe damage (loss of function of 80–90% of liver cells). The complications are hepatic encephalopathy and impaired protein synthesis (as measured by the levels of serum albumin and the prothrombin time in the blood). The 1993 classification defines ''hyperacute'' as within 1 week, ''acute'' as 8–28 days, and ''subacute'' as 4–12 weeks; both the speed with which the disease develops and the underlying cause strongly affect outcomes. Signs and symptoms The main features of acute liver failure are rapid-onset jaundice, weakness, and eventually, changes in mental status that can begin as mild confusion but progress to coma, known as hepatic encephalopathy. Encephalopathy and cerebral edema In ALF, hepatic encephalopathy leads to cerebral edema, coma, brain herniation, and eventually death. Detection of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
