Symptoms and causes of acute liver failure

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Le Nguyen Hong Tram - Gastroenterologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital. The doctor has many years of experience in the examination and treatment of diseases of the digestive tract, especially gastrointestinal - hepatobiliary diseases, gastrointestinal endoscopy.
Acute liver failure occurs when most of the liver cells are damaged beyond repair, causing the liver to rapidly lose its ability to function. Overall, liver failure is a life-threatening condition that requires urgent treatment.

1. Overview of fulminant liver failure

Acute liver failure is a loss of liver function that occurs rapidly - from 48 hours to several weeks, in people without pre-existing liver disease. Compared with chronic liver failure, acute liver failure is less common and also develops more slowly.
Acute liver failure, also known as fulminant liver failure, carries the risk of serious complications requiring emergency hospitalization. These include severe bleeding complications and increased pressure in the brain.
Depending on the cause, fulminant liver failure will be treated in a variety of ways. However, in many cases, a liver transplant may be the only cure.

2. Symptoms of acute liver failure

Signs and symptoms of acute liver failure may include:
Jaundice of the skin and eyes; Right epigastric pain; Abdominal swelling; Nausea and vomiting; Feeling unwell, general malaise; Disorientation or confusion; Sleepy.

3. When to see a doctor?

Acute liver failure can develop rapidly in a healthy person and be life-threatening. Therefore, seek medical attention immediately if you or a loved one suddenly experience:
Yellow eyes or skin; Pain in the upper abdomen; Any unusual change in mental state, personality, or behavior.

4. Causes of acute liver failure

Acute liver failure occurs when liver cells are so severely damaged that they are no longer able to function. Causes of acute liver failure may include:
Acetaminophen overdose Taking too much acetaminophen (Tylenol or other products) is the most common cause of acute liver failure in the United States. This usually happens after you take a very large dose of acetaminophen, or after a period of taking high doses of acetaminophen every day. If you or a loved one has overdosed on acetaminophen, tell your doctor as soon as possible, even if there are no signs of liver failure yet;
Prescription drugs Certain prescription drugs can cause acute liver failure, including antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and anticonvulsants.
Herbal Supplements Herbal medicines and supplements that have been linked to acute liver failure include kava (root pepper), Ma Huang, skullcap and pungent mint. .
Hepatitis and other viruses Hepatitis A , B and E is one of the causes of acute liver failure. Other viruses also associated with the condition include Epstein-Barr (EBV), cytomegalo (CMV), and herpes simplex (HSV).
Toxins Toxins believed to cause acute liver failure include the death cap mushroom Amanita phalloides - a wild poisonous mushroom that is often confused with the safe edible mushroom. Another toxin also mentioned is Carbon tetrachloride - an industrial chemical found in refrigerants and solvents for waxes, varnishes or other materials.
Autoimmune disease Liver failure can also be caused by autoimmune hepatitis - when the immune system fails, it attacks liver cells on its own, causing inflammation and damage.
Liver vein disease Vascular diseases - such as Budd-Chiari syndrome (hepatic venous occlusion), carry a risk of acute liver failure.
Metabolic diseases Rare metabolic diseases, such as Wilson's disease (a co-inherited disorder of metabolism) and acute fatty liver of pregnancy, sometimes cause low incidence of acute liver failure.
Cancer Cancer that starts in the liver or spreads to the liver can cause your liver to fail.
Shock Sepsis and shock can severely reduce blood flow to the liver and cause liver failure.
There are also many cases of acute liver failure with no clear cause.

5. Prevention of acute liver failure

To reduce the risk of acute liver failure, you should take care of your liver by:
Follow dosing instructions If you take acetaminophen or other medications, check the instructions for recommended dosages. report and do not use more than allowed. People with liver disease should ask their doctor about a safe dose of acetaminophen before taking it. Also, tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even herbal or over-the-counter medicines.
Do not abuse alcohol Women of all ages and men over 65 years old should not drink more than 1 drink/day. Young men should not consume more than 2 drinks per day.
Avoid the risks Do not share needles, limit smoking and should use condoms when having sex. If you want to get a tattoo or punch a hole on your body, you need to choose a center that ensures hygiene and safety.
Vaccinations People with chronic liver disease, a history of hepatitis infection or an increased risk of hepatitis should talk to their doctor about getting the hepatitis B or hepatitis A vaccine.
Avoid contact with blood and other people's bodily fluids Accidental puncture with contaminated needles or improper cleaning of another person's blood and body fluids can spread the hepatitis virus. Similarly, sharing razors or toothbrushes increases the risk of infection.
Food hygiene and safety Practice "eating cooked and drinking boiling", do not eat wild mushrooms because it is difficult to distinguish poisonous mushrooms from safe ones.
Be careful with chemicals When using aerosol cleaning solutions, spraying pesticides, fungicides, paints and other harmful chemicals, ... need to protect yourself by opening the door to the room. are well ventilated, at the same time, wear a mask, gloves, long-sleeved shirt, hat and follow the instructions for use of the product carefully.
Maintain a healthy weight Obesity can cause fatty liver (non-alcoholic), as well as hepatitis and cirrhosis.
In summary, the causes of acute liver failure are often different, including acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose, viruses, poisonous mushrooms, and some herbs. Fulminant liver failure is rare, with early symptoms difficult to detect. Therefore, patients should immediately seek medical attention for urgent care when they see signs of jaundice, easy bleeding, enlarged abdomen, dizziness, unusual drowsiness or even coma.
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References: Mayoclinic.org and Webmd.com