FRIDAY, Nov. 12, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- A bioartificial kidney may help save the lives of people with acute renal failure, according to results of the first test of the device in humans.
University of Michigan researchers conducted an early-phase study to examine the safety of this device in humans, but the test results also indicated that the device improved kidney function.
The study included 10 people with acute renal failure, with an average 86 percent chance of dying in the hospital. After being treated with the bioartificial kidney, six of the 10 patients survived more than 30 days.
The findings were published in the October issue of Kidney International.
The bioartificial kidney has a cartridge that filters blood. This cartridge is connected to a renal tubule assist device, made of hollow fibers lined with a type of kidney cell called renal proximal tubule cells. These cells are meant to reclaim vital salt, glucose, water, and electrolytes from blood plasma as it passes through the bioartificial kidney.
Conventional kidney dialysis machines remove these important components of blood plasma.
The renal proximal tubule cells also control production of cytokines, immune system molecules that the body needs to fight infection. This can't be done by conventional kidney dialysis machines.
"These results showed this type of human adult progenitor/stem cell is well-tolerated by patients with acute renal failure, and resulted in some improvement of the patients' clinical conditions. It's a small study, but it was compelling enough for us and the FDA to go forward with a full Phase II study," lead author Dr. H. David Humes, a professor of internal medicine, said in a prepared statement.
Humes developed the renal tubule assist device (RAD), the cell cartridge that's part of the bioartificial kidney.
He and his colleagues hope to eventually develop an implantable device for people with chronic renal failure.
More information
The U.S. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse explains treatments for kidney failure.
