Acute liver failure : Causes-Symptoms-Diagnosis-Treatment

 What is acute liver failure?

Acute liver failure is a rapid loss of liver function that typically occurs in someone without preexisting liver disease. It is most commonly caused by a hepatitis virus or medications such as acetaminophen. Acute liver failure is less common than chronic liver failure. It is important to be patient when trying something new.

Acute liver failure is a serious medical emergency that can cause excessive bleeding and increased pressure in the brain. It requires hospitalization.

Acute liver failure can sometimes be reversed with treatment, but in many cases a liver transplant may be the only cure.

Medical terms

Symptoms Acute liver failure

Some signs and symptoms of acute liver failure may include:

• If you get yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice), it means you are getting sick.

• Pain in your upper right abdomen

• Abdominal swelling (ascites)

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• A general feeling of being unwell (malaise)

• Disorientation or confusion

• Sleepiness

• Breath may have a musty or sweet odor

• Tremors

When to see a doctor

If you or someone you know experiences sudden changes in appearance such as yellowing of the eyes or skin; tenderness in the upper abdomen; or any unusual changes in mood, behavior, or personality, go to the hospital. Acute liver failure can quickly develop and be life-threatening. Immediately.

Causes Acute liver failure

Acute liver failure occurs when the liver cells are damaged and can no longer work properly. Potential causes may include:

• Acetaminophen overdose. Taking too much acetaminophen (Tylenol, etc.) is the most common cause of acute liver damage in the United States. Acute liver failure can occur after taking one large dose of acetaminophen or after taking higher doses than recommended. Make a decoupage leaf art project every day for several days.
  If you have taken an overdose of acetaminophen, seek medical attention as quickly as possible. Treatment may prevent liver failure. Don't wait for the signs of liver failure - such as feeling sick or having yellowing of the skin and eyes - to occur.

• Prescription medications.Some prescription medications, including antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and anticonvulsants, can cause acute liver failure.

• Herbal supplements.Some herbal drugs and supplements, including kava ephedra skullcap and pennyroyal, have been linked to acute liver failure.

• Hepatitis and other viruses can be harmful.Hepatitis A, B, and E can cause acute liver failure. Other viruses that can lead to acute liver failure include Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus.

• Toxins. Some toxins that can cause acute liver failure include the poisonous wild mushroom Amanita phalloides, which is sometimes mistaken for a safe mushroom to eat. Carbon tetrachloride is another toxin that can cause acute liver failure. It is an industrial chemical found in refrigerants and solvents. This passage describes how materials such as waxes and varnishes are used.

• Autoimmune disease.Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease in which your immune system attacks your liver cells, causing inflammation and damage.

• Diseases of the veins in the liver.Blockages in the veins of the liver can lead to liver failure. Diseases such as Budd-Chiari syndrome can cause this.

• Metabolic disease.Very rare metabolic diseases such as Wilson's disease and acute fatty liver of pregnancy rarely cause acute liver failure.

• Cancer.If you have cancer that has begun or spread to your liver, your liver may fail.

• Shock.Sepsis and shock can severely impair blood flow to the liver, leading to liver failure.

• Heat stroke.Physical activity in a hot environment can cause acute liver failure.

Some cases of acute liver failure have no known cause.

Complications acute liver failure

Acute liver failure can cause complications, including:

• If there is too much fluid in the brain, it is known as cerebral edema.Drinking too much water

• can cause pressure to build up in your brain, which can lead to disorientation, severe mental confusion, and seizures.

• Bleeding and bleeding disorders.A failing liver cannot make enough blood clotting factors - this can lead to bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. It can be difficult to control.

• Infections.People with acute liver failure are more likely to develop infections, especially in the blood and respiratory and urinary tracts.

• Kidney failure.If you have liver failure, kidney failure is often a result. Liver failure is often caused by an overdose of acetaminophen, which damages both your liver and your kidneys.

Prevention acute liver failure

Take care of your liver to reduce your risk of acute liver failure.

• Follow instructions on medications.If you are taking acetaminophen or other medications, be sure to check the package insert for the recommended dosage and don't take more than that. If you have liver disease, ask your doctor if it is safe to take any amount of acetaminophen.

• Talk to your doctor about all the medicines you are taking.Some over-the-counter and herbal medicines can interfere with prescription drugs you are taking.

• Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.If you choose to drink alcohol, drink in moderation. For healthy adults this means up to one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men.

• Avoid risky behavior.If you use illicit intravenous drugs, get help.Don't share needles. Use condoms during sex. If you get tattoos or body piercings, make sure the shop you choose is clean and safe. Don't smoke.

• Get vaccinated.If you have chronic liver disease, a history of any type of hepatitis infection, or an increased risk of hepatitis, talk to your doctor about getting the hepatitis B vaccine. A vaccine is also available for hepatitis A.

• Do not come into contact with other people's blood or body fluids.If you get a needle stuck in your finger or spill blood or body fluids, it can spread hepatitis viruses. Sharing razor blades or toothbrushes can also spread infection.

• Don't eat wild mushrooms.It can be hard to tell the difference between a poisonous mushroom and one that is safe to eat.

• Take care with aerosol sprays.When using an aerosol cleaner, make sure the room is ventilated and wear a mask. When spraying insecticides, fungicides, or other toxic chemicals, take similar safety measures as when using other potentially harmful substances. Follow product instructions carefully.

• Watch what gets on your skin.When using toxic chemicals, cover your skin with gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, and a hat.

• Maintain a healthy weight.Obesity can cause a condition called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which may include hepatitis and cirrhosis.

Diagnosis Acute liver failure

To diagnose acute liver failure, tests and procedures are used such as:

• Blood tests.Blood tests are used to determine how well your liver is functioning.A prothrombin time test measures how long it takes your blood to form a clot. If liver failure is acute, the blood does not clot as quickly as it should.

• Imaging tests.Your doctor may recommend an ultrasound exam to look at your liver. This testing may show liver damage and help your doctor determine the cause of your liver problems. Your doctor may also recommend a CT scan or MRI to look at your organs. Tests that look for liver problems may include checking for Budd-Chiari syndrome or tumors. Ultrasound testing may be used if your doctor suspects a problem but X-rays and other scans are not revealing enough information.

• Examination of liver tissue. Your doctor may recommend a liver biopsy. This test may help your doctor understand why your liver is failing. Since people with acute liver failure are at risk for bleeding during the biopsy, the doctor may perform a transjugular liver biopsy. The doctor makes a tiny incision in the side of your stomach and removes a small piece of liver tissue. A doctor makes an incision on the right side of your neck and passes a thin tube (catheter) into a vein near your heart. The catheter is then inserted through the incision into your liver. The doctor then removes a tissue sample from the liver by inserting a needle through the catheter.

Treatment Acute liver failure

People with acute liver failure often receive treatment in the intensive care unit of a hospital, where they might be offered a liver transplant if necessary. Your doctor may try to treat the liver damage itself, but in many cases treatment involves controlling complications and giving the liver time to heal. Ailments can be healed.

If someone has acute liver failure, treatments may include:

• Medications to reverse poisoning. Acute liver failure caused by acetaminophen overdose is treated with a medication called acetylcysteine. This medication may also help treat other causes of liver failure, such as poisoning from mushrooms or other substances.Liver damage.
  Your doctor will work to control signs and symptoms you're experiencing and try to prevent complications that may arise from liver failure. Your care may include:

• Pressing on the brain can relieve pressure.Acute liver failure can cause cerebral edema, which can increase pressure on your brain. Medications can help reduce the fluid accumulation in your brain.

• Liver transplant.If acute liver failure cannot be reversed, the only treatment may be a liver transplant. During a liver transplant, a surgeon removes your damaged liver and replaces it with a healthy liver from a donor.

• Screening for infections.Your doctor will take samples of your blood and urine to check for infection. If your doctor suspects that you have an infection, you will receive medications to treat the infection.

• Severe bleeding can be prevented.If you lose a lot of blood, your doctor may prescribe medications to slow the bleeding or give you transfusions to replace the lost blood.

• Providing nutritional support.If you cannot eat, you may need to take supplements to treat nutritional deficiencies.

Future treatments

Scientists are continuing to research new treatments for liver failure, especially those that could reduce or delay the need for a liver transplant. While several potential future treatments are in the pipeline, it's important to remember that they are still experimental and may not yet be available.

Among those being studied are:

• Artificial hepatic assist devices A machine would do the job of the liver just like dialysis does when the kidneys stop working. There are many different devices being studied, and some seem to help improve survival rates. However, currently there is not a single device that is known to be effective for everyone. A well-controlled multicenter trial showed that one system called an "artificial liver" may be helpful in some cases. Some people with acute liver failure were able to survive without a transplant when they received help from an extracorporeal liver support system. This treatment, called high-volume plasma exchange, is still being studied more fully.

• Hepatocyte transplantationTransplanting only the cells of the liver may temporarily delay the need for a liver transplant. In some cases, this could lead to a complete recovery. There is currently a shortage of good-quality donor livers, which has limited the use of this treatment.

• Auxiliary liver transplantation This procedure allows your own liver to regenerate by removing a small piece and replacing it with a similarly sized graft. This is a more difficult procedure that needs more time to be perfected. The author is evaluating.

• Xenotransplantation Doctors perform transplants that replace human livers with those from other animals or sources. These transplants were attempted a few decades ago, but the results were not as successful as we would have hoped. However, recent advances in immune and transplant medicine have made this procedure more common. I may consider this treatment again. It may help provide support for those who are waiting for a human liver transplant.

Preparing for your appointment

If your doctor thinks you may have acute liver failure, you will likely be admitted to the hospital for treatment. Most people with acute liver failure are treated in an intensive care unit.

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What you can do

If you have been diagnosed with acute liver failure, here are some questions to ask the doctor: -What caused my liver failure? -What can I do to improve my chances of survival? -How will I know if I recover from my liver failure?

• What caused my acute liver failure?

• Can it be reversed?

• Will reversing the liver surgery completely heal me?

• What are the treatments?

• Will I need a liver transplant?

• Can I find out if this hospital has a liver transplant unit?

• Should I go to a hospital that does liver transplants?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor will ask questions to try to determine the cause of your acute liver failure. They may ask:

• When did symptoms begin?

• What prescription medications do you have?

• What over-the-counter medications do you have?

• What herbal supplements do you take?

• Do you use illegal drugs?

• Have you had liver problems before?

• Do you have hepatitis or jaundice?

• Do you have a history of mental health issues, such as depression or suicidal thoughts?

• How much alcohol do you drink?

• Are you feeling sick lately?

• Do you take acetaminophen? How much?

• Do liver problems run in your family?

General summary