Ammonia Intoxication Treated by Hemodialysis

Composite Hybrid Membrane Materials for Artificial Organs

“…The first attempts to replace liver functions using only hemodialysis polymeric membranes gave poor results. In 1958, five patients with cirrhosis caused by ammonia poisoning were treated by filtrating the blood using hemodialysis membranes to remove excess ammonia, four of them recovering completely [43]. In 1976, a polyacrylonitrile membrane is used for hemodialysis to treat severe hepatitis, blood being filtered through the membrane.…”

Haemodialysis in hepatargic coma

“…This idea led Heilmeyer [7] and Kiley [12] to try to remove by dialysis metabolic products accumulated in hepatic coma.…”

Peritoneal dialysis in the reduction of blood ammonia levels in a case of hyperammonaemia.

“…Chronic ammonia intoxication, on the other hand, is characterized by periodic vomiting, deterioration of intelligence, progressive spasticity, and cerebral atrophy. Both haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis have been shown to be of limited use in the treatment of ammonia intoxication in hepatic failure (Kiley et al, 1958;Krebs and Flynn, 1967;Maxwell et al, 1959;Nienhuis, 1966). Increase in blood ammonia is commonly associated with hepatic coma but is frequently not the precipitating cause.…”

“…Kiley et al (1958) showed that haemodialysis with a Kolff system removed b lood ammonia, and improvement in conscious state followed some hours later. Nienhuis (1966) showed clinical improvement which paralleled fall in blood ammonia levels in a patient who recovered from hepatic coma after peritoneal dialysis, and Maxwell et al (1959) showed temporary improvement in their patient with hepatic coma though blood ammonia levels were not estimated.…”