Therapeutic effect of plasma exchange with the biliary drainage in the treatment of obstructive jaundice.

The effect of therapeutic plasmapheresis combined with biliary drainage was evaluated in obstructive jaundice animal models. Plasma exchange (PE) using fresh-frozen plasma was carried out with biliary drainage (BD) on a canine jaundice model created by the ligation and resection of bile duct. Routine biochemical analyses were done following PE and BD. The result was compared with that of a BD only group. Plasma bilirubin level abruptly dropped after PE and was kept at a lower level, whereas the bilirubin level of the drainage alone group decreased gradually. Decreased plasma mitochondrial GOT level in the PE group suggests improvement of liver cell damage in obstructive jaundice. Mitochondrial function of liver tissue was evaluated following partial hepatectomy, which was carried out 2 days after PE along with BD in jaundice rat. Mitochondrial respiratory control ratio and ADP/O ratio following hepatectomy were improved in the PE group. The results suggest the improvement of hepatic functional reservoir by a single PE treatment in addition to BD treatment. These results show that PE can shorten the icteric period and may improve the hepatic functions after the treatment of malignant obstructive lesion in the biliary tract.