Vital公司开发出体外肝脏支持系统

 
 
一种利用人肝脏细胞的新系统能够提供代谢功能，可以用于严重肝脏功能衰竭的治疗，或者等待肝脏移植患者的治疗。

这种体外肝脏辅助支持(ELAD)系统，是由Vital治疗公司(San Diego, CA, USA)研制开发的，能够为严重肝衰竭患者提供代谢功能支持，能够根据肝脏衰竭的类型和严重程度为等待移植的患者提供支持治疗。该ELAD系统的关键是使用受到保护的细胞株C3A，这是一种永生化的细胞株，能够生长、储存并在全球范围内运输。

这种系统由4个储存C3A细胞的结构组成，能够象正常人肝细胞一样发挥功能，可以代谢毒素清除机体废物，并将必须蛋白质回输至血浆中。这些存储部分能够被整合入患者床边泵血系统，持续为患者提供12天的支持。

Liver-Assist Device Utilizes Human Liver Cells
 
A new system based on human liver cells can provide metabolic function and be a bridge to transplant or recovery for patients with severe liver failure.

The extracorporeal liver-assist device (ELAD) system, under development by Vital Therapies (San Diego, CA, USA), provides important metabolic support for patients with severe liver failure, thereby enabling a bridge to recovery or transplant depending on the type and severity of liver failure. The key to the performance of ELAD is its utilization of a proprietary human hepatocyte cell line, C3A, an immortalized cell line that can be grown, stored, and shipped worldwide.

The system is made up of four cartridges containing C3A cells that function like a normal human liver by metabolizing toxins and removing waste products while delivering essential proteins back into the plasma. These cartridges are incorporated into a blood-pumping system at the patient’s bedside and enable continuous patient treatment for up to 12 days.