RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To study the effectiveness of an artificial liver support system.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two patients with medicamentous liver insufficiency were treated with an artificial liver support system in addition to the routine medicinal therapy. Thirty patients treated with routine medicinal therapy only served as controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The clinical symptoms (e.g. hepatic encephalopathy) and the laboratory indices (serum total bilirubin and prothrombin time) of the treatment group patients were obviously improved compared with those of the control group patients (P < 0.05). The cure rate and hospitalization days were 90.6% (26/32) and 47 days respectively in the treatment group, and 43.3% (13/30) and 72 days in the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Using an artificial liver support system combined with routine medicinal therapy is more effective than using medication alone.</p>