Therapeutic plasma exchange is a safe and effective bridge therapy in patients with alcohol-associated ACLF not having immediate prospects for liver transplantation-A case-control, pilot study.

BACKGROUND

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is a well-established treatment modality in acute liver failure patients, but its efficacy in treating acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) patients is yet to be established.

AIM

To assess the efficacy and safety of TPE in patients with alcohol-associated ACLF who were nonresponders to standard medical treatment (SMT) and without immediate prospects for liver transplantation.

METHODS

Twenty-eight alcohol-related ACLF (grade II) patients (14 cases and 14 controls) were enrolled in the study. Cases underwent standard volume TPE along with SMT while the controls were on SMT alone. The change (baseline to day 10) in laboratory parameters, cytokine concentrations, clinical severity scores along with 30 and 90 day mortality rates were noted and compared between the two groups. The adverse events (AEs) were noted in the groups and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 51 TPE procedures were performed in 14 patients (average of 3.62 procedures/patient). TPE was effective in reduction of serum bilirubin, ammonia, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, international normalized ratio, and severity scores (ACLF Research Consortium, Maddrey's discriminant function, and model for end-stage liver disease) (P < .05). There was no significant difference in the reduction of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α concentrations among cases. Among the cases who received the complete TPE interventions, 30- and 90-day mortality rates were lower in the cases as compared to controls albeit only the 90-day mortality was significantly different. Procedure-related AEs was observed in 2% of procedures.

CONCLUSION

TPE is an effective and well-tolerated bridge therapy in patients with alcohol-associated ACLF of moderate severity not improving on SMT and without immediate prospects for liver transplantation.