Fractionated plasma separation and adsorption significantly decreases intracranial pressure in acute liver failure: experimental study.

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of fractionated plasma separation and absorption (FPSA) on intracranial pressure (ICP) in acute liver failure (ALF).

METHODS

A surgical model of ALF in pigs (35-40 kg) was used. We compared laboratory data and haemodynamic parameters from the ALF control group to the ALF group treated by Prometheus using ANOVA with repeated measures and grouping factors, by calculating the area under the curve, and by the Mann-Whitney rank test.

RESULTS

Bilirubin levels differed significantly in favour of the FPSA treatment group: after 6 h 12.81 +/- 6.54 versus 29.84 +/- 9.99, after 9 h 11.94 +/- 4.14 versus 29.95 +/- 12.36 (p < 0.01) and after 12 h 13.88 +/- 6.31 versus 26.10 +/- 12.23 mmol/l (p < 0.05). ICP values differed significantly in favour of the FPSA treatment group: after 9 h 19.1 +/- 4.09 versus 24.1 +/- 2.85 (p < 0.01), after 10 h 21.9 +/- 3.63 versus 25.1 +/- 2.19, after 11 h 22.5 +/- 3.98 versus 26.3 +/- 3.50, and after 12 h 24.0 +/- 4.66 versus 29.8 +/- 5.88 mm Hg (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The authors demonstrated that a significant decrease in ICP was found in pigs with ALF following treatment by FPSA.