Temporary Replacement of Phagocytic Function of the Liver - Importance for the defence of Infections during hepatic failure

The phagocytic system is one of the main immune barriers in the defence system against living or dead external partikels and substances. Especially von Kupffer Stern-Cells of the liver play a major role in filtering the blood that is coming from the gut and that often is loaded with endotoxins and even living bacteria. In liver failure, not only hepatocytes but also non-parenchymal cells have lost their function. Furthermore, because of the impaired blood circulation in the gut, more foreign substances than usual are able to enter the gut mucosa and subsequently the systemic blood system. This very often results in septic complications in patients with hepatic failure, even during the recovering of the hepatic function due to conventional or extracorporeal treatment.