New British-designed dialysis machine that can cure liver disease could be launched in the NHS

A new British-designed dialysis machine capable of treating liver disease could be deployed to NHS hospitals within three years.

  • University College London trials new dialysis machine for liver failure
  • “Dialive” filters toxins from patients’ blood, allowing the liver to recover

British scientists have developed a dialysis machine that can cure liver failure, which has become a major boost for millions of patients.

For the first time in the world, early testing of the equipment showed that it prevented twice as many patients from organ failure as existing treatments.

Developed by University College London researchers, the device filters out toxins from the blood of patients with liver failure. This allows the liver to recover in just a month, eliminating the need for a transplant.

Experts hope it can be rolled out NHS hospitals within three years by modifying existing renal dialysis equipment if further trials are successful. Professor Rajiv Jalan of the UCLA Institute of Liver and Digestion, who invented Dialive, said it was the culmination of “50 years of failure.”

He said: “It can be difficult for scientists to define a disease and then translate that knowledge into a clinical solution that makes a real difference in people’s lives.

Experts hope Dialive (pictured) can be rolled out to NHS hospitals within three years by modifying existing kidney dialysis equipment.

Experts hope Dialive (pictured) can be rolled out to NHS hospitals within three years by modifying existing kidney dialysis equipment.

Dialive, developed by researchers at University College London, filters toxins from the blood of patients with liver failure.  This gives the liver time to heal itself.

Dialive, developed by researchers at University College London, filters toxins from the blood of patients with liver failure. This gives the liver time to heal itself.

“So, the results of the Dialive trial are an emotional moment. It builds on the lessons of many, many, many failures in the system over the past 30, 40, 50 years.” Working with Royal Free Hospital, 32 patients received dialysis or standard care for up to five days.

The treatment works using two new filters to purify the blood, similar to how kidney dialysis is currently done.

The procedure, which lasts between eight and 12 hours, meant about twice as many patients recovered from liver failure as with standard medical treatment.

The first results, published in the Journal of Hepatology, suggest that patients will only need five to ten courses of dialysis, turning the tide of the disease in just a month.

Despite treatment for only three days, patients whose liver failure resolved remained in remission for 28 days thereafter.

Professor Rajiv Jalan of the UCLA Institute of Liver and Digestion, who invented Dialive, said it was the culmination of

Professor Rajiv Jalan of the UCLA Institute of Liver and Digestion, who invented Dialive, said it was the culmination of “50 years of failure.”

Professor Jalan added: “We began to understand what accumulates in the body during liver failure – unpleasant, toxic substances that the body is not able to clear, which leads to further liver failure and impaired regeneration.

“The liver has an incredible potential for regeneration.

“If we can keep the patient alive long enough and clean up the environment for liver regeneration, then we can restore many of these patients to recovery because the normal healing processes take over.

“For a significant number of patients, this will prevent the need for a liver transplant.”

Around 15,000 patients with acute chronic liver failure are admitted in the UK each year, costing the NHS around £100,000 per patient, but not improving their chances of survival. Scientists hope to begin further testing within a few months.

Dr Banwari Agarwal of the Royal Free Hospital said: “The intervention has the potential to change the care provided to the ever-increasing number of patients and their families suffering the consequences of living with what for many is essentially an incurable disease. ‘