Liver support system

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Liver support system

A liver support system is a medical device or therapy designed to assist or replace the function of a failing liver. These systems are crucial in the management of patients with acute liver failure or chronic liver disease awaiting liver transplantation. Liver support systems can be broadly categorized into artificial and bioartificial systems.

Types of Liver Support Systems[edit | edit source]

Artificial Liver Support Systems[edit | edit source]

Artificial liver support systems are mechanical devices that perform some of the liver's functions. These systems include:

Bioartificial Liver Support Systems[edit | edit source]

Bioartificial liver support systems incorporate living cells to perform the liver's metabolic and synthetic functions. These systems include:

Indications[edit | edit source]

Liver support systems are indicated for patients with:

Mechanism of Action[edit | edit source]

Liver support systems work by:

Clinical Outcomes[edit | edit source]

The use of liver support systems has shown to improve:

Limitations[edit | edit source]

Despite their benefits, liver support systems have limitations, including:

  • High cost
  • Limited availability
  • Risk of infection and other complications
  • Variable efficacy depending on the underlying liver condition

Future Directions[edit | edit source]

Research is ongoing to improve the efficacy and accessibility of liver support systems. Future directions include:

  • Development of more efficient bioartificial systems using stem cells.
  • Integration of nanotechnology for better toxin removal.
  • Personalized medicine approaches to tailor liver support therapy to individual patient needs.

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

External Links[edit | edit source]


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