Premium
Albumin dialysis for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy
Author(s) -
BLEI ANDRES T
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2004.03678.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatic encephalopathy , encephalopathy , dialysis , albumin , intensive care medicine , serum albumin , liver failure , gastroenterology , cirrhosis
Treatment of hepatic encephalopathy is hampered by the scant therapeutic options available to the practicing physician. Albumin dialysis has been proposed to improve the management of such patients, by removing both water‐soluble and protein bound toxins. A recently completed trial of albumin dialysis in patients with severe hepatic encephalopathy offers the opportunity to evaluate the role of such a therapy. Such patients had encephalopathy associated with acute‐on‐chronic liver failure rather than the result of precipitant‐induced changes in mental state. In this entity, improvement in encephalopathy may also require correction of the hemodynamic changes associated with liver failure.