Clinical Research Directory

The Effects of Double Plasma Molecular Adsorption System in Acute on Chronic Liver Failure Patients

Acute liver failure patients posed high mortality rate despite receiving standard therapy. The severity and mortality even higher in patients with underlying liver disease. Acute liver failure cause hyperinflammatory response in early stage and immunoparalysis in later stage. The surge of proinflammatory cytokines leads to multiorgan failure and more liver injury. Subsequent immunoparalysis may lead to lethal secondary infections. Liver support system had been used in acute and acute ontop chronic liver disease for last several decades. Double plasma molecular adsorption system (DPMAS) is one of the promising non-biological liver support system that have been extensively investigated in acute ontop chronic liver failure from hepatits B viral. DPMAS circuit consist of BS330 (bilirubin adsorber) and HA330 (Cytokines adsorber). Thus, DPMAS can also remove various cytokines. The effect of DPMAS on immune function in these patients has not been explored. Recent randomized controlled trial by Srisawat et al. demonstrated improvement of mHLA-DR in septic shock patients who received polymyxin B extracorporeal therapy compare to control arm. Since liver failure show change of immunological profile resemble to sepsis. Investigators proposed that removal of toxic liver toxins and lethal cytokines by DPMAS will improve immunological profiles in acute ontop chronic liver failure patients. Investigators plan to conduct a randomized controlled trial in acute ontop chronic liver failure patients who admitted to intensive care unit. Investigators plan to compare the immunomodulatory effects of DPMAS with standard treatments.

Biomarkers in Liver Failure

Acute liver injury (ALI) and acute liver failure (ALF) are rare clinical conditions, the latter often associated with a poor outcome. To improve outcomes for these patients, clinicians need to develop a clearer understanding of the pathophysiology of this condition. Biomarkers and novel imaging techniques are vital to investigating and understanding the pathophysiology of ALI. Patients with ALI or ALF aged over 16 and due to any cause will be eligible to take part in the study. The study will involve collection of biological samples (blood, urine, stool and breath) from included patients once daily for up to 7 days. For patients undergoing liver transplantation, a small sample of explanted (removed) liver tissue will be obtained. A small subgroup of patients with paracetamol induced acute liver failure will be eligible to be included in a pilot MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) study, which will involve two MRI scans during the first 7 days of their admission. All patients will be recruited from the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

The Safety ,Tolerability and Efficacy Study of HepaCure in Chinese Subjects with Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure

This is a multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label phase 1/2 clinical study conducted in China to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of hiHep cell-based bio-artificial liver support system (HepaCure) plus DPMAS versus DPMAS alone in Chinese subjects with acute-on-chronic liver failure（ACLF）. Phase 1 is a multicenter, open label study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of single dose and multiple doses of HepaCure with different treatment duration plus DPMAS in ACLF subjects respectively. Phase 2 is a multicenter, randomized and controlled open label study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of HepaCure plus DPMAS and LPE in ACLF subjects

Comparison of Inflammatory Profiles and Regenerative Potential in Alcoholic Liver Disease

The main objective of this study is the comparison of the profile of the pro-inflammatory cytokines at the patients suffering from an alcoholic hepatitis to that of two groups witnesses: patients suffering from an alcoholic cirrhosis and unhurt patients of chronic liver disease