Acute liver failure (patient information)

Jump to navigation Jump to search
The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

WikiDoc Resources for Acute liver failure (patient information)

Articles

Most recent articles on Acute liver failure (patient information)

Most cited articles on Acute liver failure (patient information)

Review articles on Acute liver failure (patient information)

Articles on Acute liver failure (patient information) in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on Acute liver failure (patient information)

Images of Acute liver failure (patient information)

Photos of Acute liver failure (patient information)

Podcasts & MP3s on Acute liver failure (patient information)

Videos on Acute liver failure (patient information)

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Acute liver failure (patient information)

Bandolier on Acute liver failure (patient information)

TRIP on Acute liver failure (patient information)

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Acute liver failure (patient information) at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on Acute liver failure (patient information)

Clinical Trials on Acute liver failure (patient information) at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Acute liver failure (patient information)

NICE Guidance on Acute liver failure (patient information)

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Acute liver failure (patient information)

CDC on Acute liver failure (patient information)

Books

Books on Acute liver failure (patient information)

News

Acute liver failure (patient information) in the news

Be alerted to news on Acute liver failure (patient information)

News trends on Acute liver failure (patient information)

Commentary

Blogs on Acute liver failure (patient information)

Definitions

Definitions of Acute liver failure (patient information)

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on Acute liver failure (patient information)

Discussion groups on Acute liver failure (patient information)

Patient Handouts on Acute liver failure (patient information)

Directions to Hospitals Treating Acute liver failure (patient information)

Risk calculators and risk factors for Acute liver failure (patient information)

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of Acute liver failure (patient information)

Causes & Risk Factors for Acute liver failure (patient information)

Diagnostic studies for Acute liver failure (patient information)

Treatment of Acute liver failure (patient information)

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on Acute liver failure (patient information)

International

Acute liver failure (patient information) en Espanol

Acute liver failure (patient information) en Francais

Business

Acute liver failure (patient information) in the Marketplace

Patents on Acute liver failure (patient information)

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Acute liver failure (patient information)

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-in-Chief: Jinhui Wu, MD

Overview

Acute liver failure is the rapid deterioration of liver function resulting in coagulopathy and alteration in the mental status of a previously healthy individual. It often affects young people and carries a very high mortality. Drug-related hepatotoxicity due to acetaminophen is the most common cause of acute liver failure in the United States. Other causes include hepatitis viruses infectious, hepatic vascular diseases, autoimmune disease, metabolic diseases, and primary or secondary hepatocellular carcinoma. Usual signs and symptoms include nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue, diarrhea, jaundice, bleeding, even confusion or coma. Abdominal CT, MRI scan and biopsy are the helpful test for diagnosis of acute liver failure. Treatment options depend on the underlying cause. It includes medications to reverse poisoning, treatment for virus infections, managing the complications and liver transplant. The prognosis of acute liver failure depends on the underlying cause and the complications.

what are the symptoms of acute liver failure?

The initial symptoms of liver failure are difficult to diagnose because they can be due to any conditions. However, as liver failure progresses, the symptoms become more serious. Signs and symptoms of acute liver failure may include:

what are the causes of acute liver failure?

Drug-related hepatotoxicity due to acetaminophen is the most common cause of acute liver failure in the United States. Other causes include hepatitis viruses, hepatic vascular diseases, autoimmune disease, metabolic diseases, and primary or secondary hepatocellular carcinoma.

Who is at risk for acute liver failure?

Patients who are taking the certain drugs are at a higher risk of developing acute liver failure. These medications are as follows:

Certain medical conditions increase the risk of developing acute liver failure including,

  • Viruses
  • Vascular diseases
  • Autoimmune disease
  • Metabolic diseases
  • Malignancy
  • Long term alcohol consumption

Diagnosis

  • Complete blood cell (CBC) count, PT and/or international normalized ratio (INR): These tests may indicate thrombocytopenia and measures how long it takes for your blood to clot. If you have acute liver failure, your blood doesn't clot as quickly as it should.
  • Hepatic enzymes: This test is to determine how well your liver function is.
  • Serum bilirubin, ammonia, glucose, lactate, creatinine.
  • Arterial blood gases (ABGs): These may reveal hypoxemia.
  • Viral serologies
  • Acetaminophen level
  • Abdominal CT or MRI scan and biopsy: CT or MRI scans are often used to diagnose acute liver failure. These scans can also be used to guide biopsy and a biopsy sample is usually removed and looked at under a microscope. Tests of the liver tissue may help your doctor understand why your liver is failing.

When to seek urgent medical care?

Acute liver failure can develop quickly and life-threatening in an otherwise healthy person. If you experience either of the following symptoms, seeking urgent medical care as soon as possible:

  • A yellowing of the eyes or skin
  • Tenderness in the upper abdomen
  • Any unusual changes in mental state, personality or behavior.

Treatment options

Acute liver failure is a serious disorder amd the patients are always treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital. Treatment options depend on the underlying cause. Acute liver failure treatments may include:

  • Diet: Patients with acute liver failure are fed via a feeding tube, nothing by mouth (NPO). They may require large amounts of IV glucose to avoid hypoglycemia.
  • Medications to reverse poisoning: Acute liver failure caused by acetaminophen overdose or mushroom poisoning is treated with drugs that can reverse the effects of the toxin.
  • Treatment for infections: If your doctor suspects that you have an infection of some viruses, you'll receive medications to treat the infection.
  • Relieving excess fluid in the brain: Cerebral edema caused by acute liver failure can increase pressure on your brain. Medications can help reduce the fluid buildup in your brain.
  • Preventing severe bleeding: Patients with acute liver failure often develop bleeding ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract. The doctor will give you medications to reduce the risk of bleeding. If you lose a lot of blood, you may require blood transfusions.
  • Liver transplant: If acute liver failure can't be reversed, the only treatment may be a liver transplant. During this procedure, the treatment team remove your damaged liver and replaces it with a healthy liver from a donor.

Diseases with similar symptoms

  • Tyrosinemia
  • Fructose intolerance
  • B cereus toxin
  • HELLP syndrome of pregnancy

Where to find medical care for acute liver failure?

Directions to Hospitals Treating acute liver failure

Prevention of acute liver failure

  • Get vaccinated: Get a hepatitis vaccine or an immunoglobulin shot to prevent hepatitis A or hepatitis B.
  • Eat a proper diet from all of the food groups.
  • Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity can cause a condition called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which may include fatty liver, hepatitis and cirrhosis.
  • Avoidance of alcohol abuse. Avoid alcohol when you are taking acetaminophen (Tylenol).
  • Practice proper hygiene. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before you touch any food and after you use the bathroom.
  • Don't handle any blood or blood products.
  • Don't share any personal toiletry items, including toothbrushes and razors.
  • If you get a tattoo or a body piercing, make sure the conditions are sanitary and all equipment is aseptic.
  • Be sure to use protection (condoms) when having sex.
  • If you use illegal intravenous drugs, don't share needles with anyone.

What to expect (Outook/Prognosis)?

The prognosis of acute liver failure depends on:

  • The underlying cause of acute liver failure: The prognosis of acute liver failure caused by cancers is worse than other causes.
  • The development of complications is the other factor that largely determines survival.

Possible complications

  • Seizures and coma.
  • hemorrhage due to impaired coagulation that manifests in patients with acute liver failure.
  • Infection.
  • Renal failure.

Sources

Template:WH Template:WS