Wilson's Disease Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Wilson's Disease, including details on treatment, causes, symptoms, medication.

Plasmapheresis for hemolytic crisis and impending acute liver failure in Wilson disease.

Asfaha S, Almansori M, Qarni U, Gutfreund KS

Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Wilsonian crisis is fatal unless copper removal is initiated early and liver transplantation is performed for patients that fulfill criteria for a poor outcome. We report a patient presenting with severe hemolysis and impending acute liver failure that made a rapid recovery with prompt initiation of plasmapheresis and chelation therapy. Rapid copper removal by plasmapheresis alleviated hemolysis and liver injury. A review of the literature was performed examining the use of plasmapheresis and albumin dialysis with continuous veno-venous hemodialysis or molecular adsorbents and recirculating system. J. Clin. Apheresis, 2007. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Published 18 October 2007 in J Clin Apher, 22(5): 295-8.
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