Acute Liver Failure

Topics

• What is Acute Liver Failure?
• What Causes Acute Liver Failure?
• Who is at Risk for Acute Liver Failure?
• Symptoms of Acute Liver Failure
• How is Acute Liver Failure Diagnosed?
• Acute Liver Failure Treatment
• Complications of Acute Liver Failure
• Acute Liver Failure Prevention
• Suggested Articles

Who is at Risk for Developing Acute Liver Failure?

Acute liver failure often affects young persons and carries a high morbidity and mortality. Risk factors for developing ALF are as follows:

• People that take an extremely large dose of acetaminophen at one time or a smaller dose over a period of a few days.
• Failure to follow dosage instructions for prescription medications and over-the-counter pain relievers and herbal medicines.
• Failure to follow manufacturer’s instructions when using aerosol sprays, pesticides, cleaning fluids and other toxic chemicals. (Always wear protective clothing such as gloves, a mask, protective eyewear and a hat.)
• Failure to get vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B.
• Use of illicit drugs, engaging in unprotected sex, obtaining a tattoo or body piercing in an unsanitary environment or with unsanitary equipment
• Failure to exercise caution when handling needles or cleaning up bodily fluids or blood.
• Failure to inform one’s doctor of all prescription drugs, herbal remedies and over-the-counter medications that one is taking to prevent dangerous interactions.
• Consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol.
• Obesity – (While obesity is not known to cause ALF, studies show that obese and severely obese patients had significantly poorer outcomes when they developed acute liver failure.)

What Causes Acute Liver Failure? Symptoms of Acute Liver Failure