Acute liver failure
Acute Liver Failure
Acute liver failure (pronunciation: /əˈkjuːt ˈlɪvər ˈfeɪljər/) is a rapid loss of liver function, typically in a person without pre-existing liver disease. It is a medical emergency that requires immediate care.
Etymology
The term "acute" comes from the Latin acutus, meaning "sharp" or "severe". "Liver" is derived from the Old English lifer, and "failure" comes from the Old French falloir, meaning "to be lacking".
Causes
Acute liver failure can be caused by a variety of conditions, including hepatitis viruses, drug-induced liver injury, autoimmune hepatitis, and metabolic disease. Other causes can include toxins, alcohol abuse, and cancer that has spread to the liver.
Symptoms
Symptoms of acute liver failure may include jaundice, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In severe cases, it can lead to encephalopathy, which can cause confusion and disorientation.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of acute liver failure involves a series of tests, including blood tests, imaging tests, and sometimes a liver biopsy.
Treatment
Treatment for acute liver failure typically involves treating the underlying cause, if known, and managing symptoms. In severe cases, a liver transplant may be necessary.
Related Terms
- Hepatitis
- Jaundice
- Liver transplant
- Encephalopathy
- Liver disease
- Liver biopsy
- Metabolic disease
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Drug-induced liver injury
- Alcohol abuse
- Cancer
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Acute liver failure
- Wikipedia's article - Acute liver failure
This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski