Abstract

Extracorporeal Albumin Dialysis (ECAD) is a therapy option for pruritus in cholestatic liver disease. The aim was to evaluate the feasibility for ECAD using two different devices. A subgroup with intractable pruritus of a prospective randomized crossover study in liver patients was analyzed. Randomly subjects received either MARSTM first and new HepalbinTMCluster12 albumin dialysis (OPALTM) second or vice versa. Visual Analogue Score, total bile acids as well as albumin binding function were measured before and after each treatment. 8 subjects suffering from cholestatic liver disease and pruritus were enrolled. Subjects in both arms were comparable. Albumin dialysis could reduce albumin bound toxins, the binding function of patient’s albumin improved in OPAL, but not in MARS. Which one of the biomarker changes are responsible for the improvement of pruritus remains unknown and requires more research. The procedure was safe in all subjects.