Liver Failure
What is Liver Failure ?
Acute liver failure is loss of liver function that happens quickly — in days or weeks — usually in a person who has no preexisting liver disease. It’s most often caused by a hepatitis virus or drugs, such as acetaminophen. Acute liver failure is less common than chronic liver failure, which develops more slowly.
Acute liver failure, also known as fulminant hepatic failure, can cause serious complications, including bleeding and increased pressure in the brain. It’s a medical emergency that requires hospitalization. Depending on the cause, acute liver failure can sometimes be reversed with treatment. In many situations, though, a liver transplant may be the only cure.
Symptoms
- Yellowing of the skin and eyeballs, called jaundice
- Pain in the upper right belly area, called the abdomen
- A swollen belly, known as ascites
- Nausea and vomiting
- A general sense of feeling unwell, known as malaise
- Disorientation or confusion
- Sleepiness
- Breath with a musty or sweet odor
- Tremors
- Weight loss and muscle loss
Cause
Acute and chronic liver failure happen in different ways, but they’re both due to overwhelming stress on your liver. Some of the same toxins and diseases can stress your liver all at once or gradually over time, depending on how severe they are. Other causes of liver failure only happen suddenly or gradually. Acute liver failure usually occurs in people with no prior history of liver disease. It happens when something overwhelmingly injures your liver. This might be an overwhelming toxic load that your liver encounters as it’s filtering your blood. It can also be an acute infection that attacks your liver directly.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for acute liver failure include:
- Being female. A majority of people affected by acute liver failure are female.
- Underlying illness. Many conditions, including viral hepatitis, metabolic disease, autoimmune disease and cancer can increase the risk of acute liver failure.
When to see a Doctor
Acute liver failure can develop quickly in an otherwise healthy person, and it is life-threatening. If you or someone you know suddenly develops a yellowing of the eyes or skin; tenderness in the upper abdomen; or any unusual changes in mental state, personality or behavior, seek medical attention right away.