Blood filtering treatment tested for sudden liver failure
NCT ID NCT03702920
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested a blood filtering procedure called plasma exchange using a 5% albumin solution in people with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), a sudden worsening of chronic liver disease. The trial enrolled 274 high-risk patients across the US, Canada, and Europe, comparing standard medical care plus plasma exchange to standard care alone. The goal was to see if the treatment could reduce deaths within 90 days. However, the study was terminated early, so the results are not conclusive.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
plasma exchange with human serum albumin 5% (Albutein 5%)
What this could lead to
If successful, this treatment could improve short-term survival for people with acute-on-chronic liver failure who are at high risk of dying in the hospital.
What could go wrong
The trial was terminated early, so results are limited. The treatment involves risks like infection or bleeding, and it is unclear if it works better than standard care alone.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda
Milan, 20162, Italy
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Aurora Health Care, Inc.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53215, United States
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Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova
Padova, 35128, Italy
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Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico Umberto I
Roma, Roma, 161, Italy
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Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, California, 90048, United States
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Centre Hépato-Biliaire - Hôpital Universitaire Paul Brousse
Villejuif, 94804, France
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Centro Hospitalar do Porto
Porto, Portugal
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Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
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Hannover Medical School
Hanover, 30625, Germany
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Hospital Clínic de Barcelona
Barcelona, 08036, Spain
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Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal
Madrid, 28034, Spain
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Hospital Universitario del Valle Hebron
Barcelona, 08035, Spain
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Hôpital Beaujon
Clichy, 92110, France
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King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
London, SE5 9RS, United Kingdom
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Klinikum der Universitaet Muenchen
München, 81377, Germany
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Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, New York, 55905, United States
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McGuire VA Medical Center
Richmond, Virginia, 23249, United States
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Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, A-1090, Austria
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Milano Hospital Fondazione IRCCS Ca Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
Milan, Milan, 20122, Italy
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Nottingham University Hospital
Nottingham, Nottingham, NG72UH, United Kingdom
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Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust Hospital
London, London, NW3 2QG, United Kingdom
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Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School
Newark, New Jersey, 07101, United States
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Southern California Research Center
Coronado, California, 92118, United States
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UZ Leuven - Campus Gasthuisberg
Leuven, 3000, Belgium
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Universitaetsklinikum Leipzig
Leipzig, 4103, Germany
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University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
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University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States
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University of Washington Medical Center
Seattle, Washington, 98195, United States
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Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt
Frankfurt, 60590, Germany
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Université libre de Bruxelles
Brussels, 1070, Belgium