[Treatment of severe viral hepatitis with artificial liver support system]

To investigate the method and therapeutic efficacy of artificial liver support system (ALSS) in treatment of severe viral hepatitis.A total of 83 patients including 66 with severe viral hepatitis were treated with ALSS using Baxter-550 artificial kidney and Biologic-DT system.The levels of mean bilirubin, ALT, AST, BUN, Cr and endotoxin was significantly decreased after the treatment. Of the 66 patients?with severe viral hepatitis, 31(47.0%) had improvement in symptoms and 35 (53.0%) died or left hospital. In the control group,50(27.6%) out of the 181 had improvement in symptoms and 131(72.4%) died or left hospital.ALSS could exert certain therapeutic effects on severe viral hepatitis.