Cell Transplantation (Sep 2003)

Bridging a Patient with Acute Liver Failure to Liver Transplantation by the AMC-Bioartificial Liver

  • Maarten-Paul Van De Kerkhove,
  • Ernesto Di Florio,
  • Vincenzo Scuderi,
  • Antonio Mancini,
  • Antonello Belli,
  • Adele Bracco,
  • Daniela Scala,
  • Simona Scala,
  • Laura Zeuli,
  • Giuseppe Di Nicuolo,
  • Pietro Amoroso,
  • Fulvio Calise,
  • Robert A. F. M. Chamuleau

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3727/000000003108747163
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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Recently a phase I clinical trial has been started in Italy to bridge patients with acute liver failure (ALF) to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) by the AMC-bioartificial liver (AMC-BAL). The AMC-BAL is charged with 10 × 109 viable primary porcine hepatocytes isolated from a specified pathogen-free (SPF) pig. Here we report a patient with ALF due to acute HBV infection. This patient was treated for 35 h by two AMC-BAL treatments and was bridged to OLT. There was improvement of biochemical and clinical parameters during the treatment. No severe adverse events were observed during treatment and follow-up of 15 months after hospital discharge. Possible porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) activity could not be detected in the patient's blood or blood cells up to 12 months after treatment.