>
New British-design dialysis machine that can reverse liver disease could be rolled out to NHS hospitals within three years
- University College London is testing a new dialysis machine to treat liver failure
- ‘Dialive’ filters toxins from patients’ blood – giving the liver time to regenerate
A dialysis machine that can cure liver failure has been developed by British scientists as a major boost for millions of patients.
In a world first, early trials of the equipment found it stopped twice as many patients with organ failure than existing treatments.
The device was developed by researchers at University College London and filters toxins from the blood of patients with liver failure. This gives the liver time to regenerate itself in just one month, eliminating the need for a transplant.
Experts hope it could be rolled out in NHS hospitals within three years by adapting existing kidney dialysis equipment, if further trials are successful. Professor Rajiv Jalan, from the UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, inventor of Dialive, said it was the culmination of ’50 years of failure’.
He said: ‘As academics it can be difficult to define a disease and then translate this knowledge into a clinical solution that really makes a difference in people’s lives.
Experts hope Dialive (pictured) can be rolled out to NHS hospitals within three years by adapting existing kidney dialysis equipment
Developed by researchers at University College London, Dialive filters toxins from the blood of patients with liver failure. This gives the liver time to regenerate itself
So the results of the Dialive trial are an emotional moment. It is based on the lessons learned from many, many, many failures in the system over the last 30, 40, 50 years.” In collaboration with the Royal Free Hospital, 32 patients received dialysis or standard care for up to five days.
The treatment works with two new filters to clean the blood in a similar way to how kidney dialysis is currently performed.
The procedure, which takes eight to 12 hours, meant that about twice as many patients came out of liver failure as those who received standard drug treatment.
The first results, published in the Journal of Hepatology, suggest patients need only between five and 10 courses of dialysis, turning the tide of the disease in just a month.
Despite being treated for only three days, patients whose liver failure resolved remained in remission for another 28 days.
Professor Rajiv Jalan, from the UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, inventor of Dialive, said it was the culmination of ’50 years of failure’
Professor Jalan added: ‘We started to understand what accumulates in the body when the liver fails – nasty, toxic substances that the body cannot clear and lead to further liver failure and failure of regeneration.
‘The liver has an incredible potential to regenerate.
“If we can keep the patient alive long enough and clear the environment for liver regeneration, then we should be able to bridge many of these patients for recovery as normal healing processes take over.”
“For a substantial number of patients, it prevents the need for a liver transplant.”
The UK sees around 15,000 patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure every year, with treatment costing the NHS around £100,000 per patient, without improving their chances of survival. Scientists hope to begin further trials within months.
Dr. Banwari Agarwal, from the Royal Free Hospital, said: ‘The intervention has the potential to transform the care provided to the ever-increasing number of patients and their families suffering the consequences of living with what for many is essentially a terminal illness. ‘