First clinical experience with a new type of albumin dialysis: the HepaWash® system.

Liver failure (LF) is associated with prolonged hospital stay, increased cost and substantial mortality. With regard to a limited number of donor organs, extracorporeal liver support is an appealing concept to bridge to transplant or to avoid transplant in case of recovery. A new type of albumin dialysis, the HepaWash® system, was recently introduced. The HepaWash® system provides rapid regeneration of toxin-binding albumin by secondary circuits altering binding capacities of albumin by biochemical (changing pH) and physical (changing temperature) modulation of the dialysate.