Year: 2025 | Month: June | Volume: 15 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 234-240
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20250630
Plasma Exchange in Liver Failure - Insights from a Tertiary Care Experience
Anubhuti Jain1, Joyce Regi2
1Department of Pathology, 2Department of Pathology,
Sir HN Reliance Hospital, Mumbai, India.
Corresponding Author: Dr Anubhuti Jain
ABSTRACT
Liver failure, encompassing both acute liver failure (ALF) and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), constitutes a severe and life-threatening medical emergency. These conditions are characterized by rapid functional decline of the liver, frequently progressing to multi-organ dysfunction. Plasma exchange (PLEX) has emerged as a promising adjunctive therapeutic strategy, primarily due to its capacity to eliminate circulating toxins and inflammatory mediators. This paper explores the application of PLEX in patients diagnosed with ALF and ACLF, evaluating its impact on their biochemical profiles and overall prognosis.
The study cohort comprised eleven patients, with an average age of 41 years (ranging from 8 to 64 years); nine of these patients were male. Of the total, three patients presented with ALF, and eight with ACLF. Participants underwent an average of 2.9 PLEX cycles over an average hospitalization period of 12.3 days (ranging from 3 to 22 days). PLEX treatment resulted in a notable improvement in serum levels of bilirubin, INR, and creatinine across the patient group. Five patients (45%) achieved a favourable clinical outcome. Furthermore, patients demonstrating a favourable outcome exhibited a significant reduction in serum bilirubin and INR levels when compared to those with an unfavourable outcome
The findings suggest that PLEX may offer potential benefits for patients afflicted with ALF or ACLF. Further research, incorporating a larger dataset, is necessary to conclusively establish its efficacy in the treatment of liver failure.
Key words: Acute liver failure, acute on chronic liver failure, plasma exchange