What Is Liver Failure?

By amanda

Reviewed: Dr. Mera

Article Sources

Article Sources

• 1. Gagan K et al. Acute liver failure. Medscape: Drugs and Diseases (2019) https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/177354-overview
• 2. Mayo Clinic. Diseases and Conditions: Liver Disease. (2020) https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/liver-problems/symptoms-causes/syc-20374502
• 3. Wolf, David C. et al. Cirrhosis. Medscape: Drugs and Diseases (2018) https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/185856-overview

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The liver is the largest solid organ in the abdominal cavity, and it plays an equally important role in maintaining health. Filtering toxins from the blood is its most famous job, but it also performs many other functions vital to life.²Mayo Clinic. Diseases and Conditions: Liver Disease. (2020) https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/liver-problems/symptoms-causes/syc-20374502 Thus, when the liver is not functioning correctly, multiple systems are affected.

Liver failure is an uncommon but serious condition that can have a sudden or gradual onset. Impaired thinking is the most serious symptom of liver failure, and death can occur if the condition is not treated promptly.¹Gagan K et al. Acute liver failure. Medscape: Drugs and Diseases (2019) https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/177354-overview

1. Acute Liver Failure

When someone with a healthy liver develops symptoms of liver failure during a period of 26 weeks or less, doctors refer to the condition as acute liver failure.¹Gagan K et al. Acute liver failure. Medscape: Drugs and Diseases (2019) https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/177354-overview It is usually marked by coagulation problems like bleeding and easy bruising.

Acute liver failure encompasses conditions like Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) and subfulminant hepatic failure. FHF is usually associated with cognition and mental status changes.