Symptoms of acute liver failure may include:
Symptoms can suddenly become severe and life-threatening.
The main treatment for acute liver failure is supportive care. This includes managing your body’s fluids and controlling your bleeding risk. If you took too much acetaminophen, your doctor may treat you with medicines. In some severe cases, a liver transplant may be an option.
Your doctor will check for jaundice and swelling and pain in your liver. You will have blood tests to see how well your liver is working. Blood tests measure blood-clotting factors, proteins, and other substances. If needed, you may have imaging tests, such as ultrasound, CT scans, and MRI scans of your belly.
The most common causes of acute liver failure are:
Other causes of acute liver failure include:
Acute liver failure is sudden damage to the liver that keeps it from working as it should and may be life-threatening. The illness may develop in days to weeks. How long it takes depends on its cause.
A healthy liver removes toxins from the blood. It makes substances that help blood clot. It also helps your body use nutrients from the food you eat.
A damaged liver allows toxins to build up in your blood. The toxins may cause confusion, slurred speech, and tremors. This is called hepatic encephalopathy (say "hip-PAT-ik in-sef-uh-LAW-puh-thee"). Your liver may also stop making blood clotting factors and certain proteins in your blood. This can lead to serious bleeding and a buildup of fluids in the belly (ascites) and legs.
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