Objective: To evaluate the effect and safety of a single treatment using molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) on patients with chronic liver failure.
Methods: The effect of MARS artificial liver system in 60 cases of chronic liver failure was reviewed. The liver function, renal function, blood coagulation index, peripheral blood routine and serum electrolytes were determined before and after treatment with MARS. In 32 patients, side effects were looked for during MARS treatment and were observed.
Results: The levels of serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, non-conjugated bilirubin and total bile acid were significantly decreased respectively in patients after treatment with MARS for 8 hours (all P<0.05). There were no differences in the levels of serum albumin (ALB), globulin (GLB), blood routine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), prothrombin activity (PTA) and renal function before and after MARS treatment (all P>0.05). There were no significant differences in serum electrolytes indexes after MARS treatment except for carbon dioxide combining power (CO(2) CP). Vital signs were stable before and after the treatment. No significant side effects were observed. Thirty-two patients with MARS therapy were followed up for 1 month. Among them, 14 patients died within 1 month (43.7%, 14/32 cases), while 18 patients survived (56.3%, 18/32 cases).
Conclusion: MARS is one of the complementary methods that are safe and effective for patients with chronic liver failure.