Bioartificial liver development from a clinical surgeon's perspective: What is necessary for Japan-originated research?

Abstract

In Japan, in order to clinically apply a bioartificial liver (BAL), the necessity of existing therapeutic conditions needs to be sufficiently understood. From a clinical perspective, the BAL would prove useful if it could be successfully applied in the treatment of post-operative and fulminant hepatic failure, in "partial" adult-to-adult living-donor liver transplantation, etc. In order to develop the BAL device in Japan, understanding of Japanese medical conditions is indispensable. We consider that Japanese BAL researchers should aim to develop a device that supplies the liver with regenerative factors. Thus, a Japan-originated BAL device will exceed its Western counterparts.