Extracorporeal support in liver failure (monitoring report)

Recent epidemiological studies have shown that liver failure is an important cause of death worldwide. This is particularly the case for liver failure caused by acute deterioration of chronic liver disease (acute-on-chronic failure), and to a lesser degree for acute liver failure. Especially in industrialized societies the burden of disease caused by liver disease is on the increase, caused, among others, by disrupted dietary patterns, hepatitis C infection and liver cancer. Despite improved treatment options for liver disease in the last twenty years, mortality from liver failure remains high.