- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Part 6.1 Physiology
- Part 6.2 Gastrointestinal monitoring
- Part 6.3 Gastrointestinal haemorrhage
- Part 6.4 Disordered gastric motility
- Part 6.5 The acute abdomen in the ICU
- Part 6.6 Pancreatitis
- Part 6.7 Jaundice
- Part 6.8 Acute hepatic failure
- Chapter 194 Pathophysiology and causes of acute hepatic failure
- Chapter 195 Diagnosis and assessment of acute hepatic failure in the critically ill
- Chapter 196 Management of acute hepatic failure in the critically ill
- Chapter 197 The effect of acute hepatic failure on drug handling in the critically ill
- Chapter 198 Extracorporeal liver support devices in the ICU
- Part 6.9 Acute on chronic hepatic failure
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care
(p. 916) Pathophysiology and causes of acute hepatic failure
- Chapter:
- (p. 916) Pathophysiology and causes of acute hepatic failure
- Author(s):
Sameer Patel
and Julia Wendon
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199600830.003.0194
Acute liver failure (ALF) is a rare, life-threatening clinical syndrome, resulting in loss of hepatic metabolic and immunological function, in a person with no prior history of liver disease. Mortality can still exceed 50%. ALF is characterized by hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and coagulopathy, occurring within days or weeks. Establishing aetiology is essential for treatment, prognostication, and liver transplantation consideration. Viral hepatitis and drug-induced liver failure are the two commonest causes worldwide. Aetiology and time of onset of encephalopathy determines prognosis. Disease progression can rapidly result in multi-organ failure. Ammonia has been postulated in the development of HE, cerebral oedema and intracranial hypertension. Coagulopathy can be highly variable, with some patients prothrombotic, or exhibiting balanced coagulation disorders. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and associated infection are frequently observed. Significant haemodynamic changes are common while renal failure is an independent risk factor for mortality. Respiratory failure is less common. Deranged homeostasis results in severe hypoglycaemia, and metabolic disturbance.
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- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Part 6.1 Physiology
- Part 6.2 Gastrointestinal monitoring
- Part 6.3 Gastrointestinal haemorrhage
- Part 6.4 Disordered gastric motility
- Part 6.5 The acute abdomen in the ICU
- Part 6.6 Pancreatitis
- Part 6.7 Jaundice
- Part 6.8 Acute hepatic failure
- Chapter 194 Pathophysiology and causes of acute hepatic failure
- Chapter 195 Diagnosis and assessment of acute hepatic failure in the critically ill
- Chapter 196 Management of acute hepatic failure in the critically ill
- Chapter 197 The effect of acute hepatic failure on drug handling in the critically ill
- Chapter 198 Extracorporeal liver support devices in the ICU
- Part 6.9 Acute on chronic hepatic failure
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care