Plasma exchange does not improve overall survival in patients with acute liver failure in a real world cohort

Abstract

Background and AimsTherapeutic plasma exchange (PEX) has emerged as a potential treatment option for patients with acute liver failure (ALF). The effect of PEX on survival outcomes outside of clinical trials is not yet well established. In this study we aimed to evaluate the real-world use and outcomes of PEX for the treatment of ALF. MethodsThis multicentre retrospective cohort study included consecutive patients with ALF admitted to all 7 tertiary liver transplant centres in the United Kingdom (UK) between June 2013 and December 2021. Changes in clinical variables following PEX treatment was assessed and overall survival and transplant free survival (TFS) to hospital discharge of patients receiving PEX were compared to those receiving standard medical therapy (SMT). Propensity score matching was performed to control for intergroup covariates and selection bias. ResultsWe included 378 patients with ALF (median (IQR) age 36 (28-48), 64% (n=242) female) of which 120 received PEX. There was a significant improvement in most clinical variables following PEX, including median dose of noradrenaline (reduction from 0.35 μg/kg/min (0.19 - 0.70 μg/kg/min) to 0.16 μg/kg/min (0.08 - 0.49) (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between PEX and SMT groups in overall survival (51.4 % v 62.6 % respectively, p = 0.12) or TFS (42.6 % v 53.1 %, p = 0.24). ConclusionPEX is now frequently used in the management of ALF patients in the UK. It is associated with significant improvement in haemodynamic parameters but there is no survival benefit. Impact and implicationsPEX is frequently used in the management of patients with ALF in the UK. This real-world study demonstrates significant improvement in haemodynamic status but has not confirmed the survival benefit seen in previous published literature. These results should help inform future use of PEX.