Hepatitis A, B, and E cause acute liver failure. Other causes of acute liver failure include heatstroke, nonfunctioning of primary graft in liver transplant cases, etc. The risk of acute liver failure is much greater if you already suffer from chronic liver ailments.
Causes and Evaluation of Acute Liver Failure
New York (USA), June 24, 2013
Causes of Acute Liver Failure
Causes for acute liver failure include:
Hepatitis Virus: Hepatitis A, B, and E cause acute liver failure. Other viruses leading to acute liver failure include cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and herpes simplex virus. Hepatitis C rarely causes acute liver failure.
Overdose of Acetaminophen: If you take more than prescribed dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol and others) for a prolonged period or if you take a single large dose of acetaminophen, it could cause acute liver failure. The risk is much greater if you already suffer from chronic liver ailments.
Prescription Medications: Certain anticonvulsants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, and few other prescription medications cause acute liver failure.
Autoimmune Disease: Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease leading to inflammation and injury of liver cells as your body immune system attacks liver cells. This eventually causes acute liver failure.
Liver Diseases: Budd-Chiari syndrome is a vascular disease affecting veins in the liver and is responsible for blockages, which eventually lead to acute liver failure. Liver cancer or cancer of other body organs spreading to liver can also lead to acute liver failure.
Metabolic Disease: Wilson’s disease, a rare metabolic disease, and acute fatty liver of pregnancy can cause acute liver failure, although these are not so common.
Miscellaneous: Other possible causes of acute liver failure include heatstroke, nonfunctioning of primary graft in liver transplant cases, and few other diseases.
Herbal Supplements: Certain herbal supplements like skullcap, kava, pennyroyal, and ephedra are responsible for acute liver failure.
Sometimes, acute liver failure could occur without any apparent cause.
Evaluation of Acute Liver Failure
A complete and thorough laboratory examination of prothrombin, careful evaluation of mental status, liver function tests of albumin, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, complete blood count, levels of urea blood, urea nitrogen, creatinine, calcium, bicarbonate, potassium, chloride, arterial blood gas, glucose, and various others is essential to arrive at the correct evaluation of acute liver failure severity. Any occurrence of chronic liver disease in the past, possibility of exposure to toxins, drugs, and viral infections should be thoroughly evaluated for correct management of acute liver failure.
Acute Liver Failure – Definition and Diagnosis
Definition and Diagnosis of Acute Liver Failure
Acute Liver Failure – Signs and Symptoms
Signs and Symptoms of Acute Liver Failure
Acute Liver Failure – Complications and Risk Factors
Complications and Risk Factors for Acute Liver Failure
Acute Liver Failure – Diagnostic Tests and Procedures
Diagnostic Tests and Procedures for Acute Liver Failure
Acute Liver Failure – Treatments and Medications
Treatments and Medications for Acute Liver Failure
Acute Liver Failure – Clinical Trials and Research Studies
Clinical Trials and Research Studies on Acute Liver Failure
Acute Liver Failure – Home Remedies and Alternative Therapies
Home Remedies and Alternative Therapies for Acute Liver Failure
Acute Liver Failure – Prevention and Coping
Prevention and Coping with Acute Liver Failure
Acute Liver Failure – Lifestyle Changes and Self-Help
Lifestyle Changes and Self-Help for Acute Liver Failure
Acute Liver Failure – Prevention, Treatment, and Remedies
Acute Liver Failure – Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Prevention, Treatment, and Remedies