Acute Failing Heart, Liver Loss of Ability Function

Acute liver failure occurs when the heart was rapidly losing the ability to function. Liver failure usually develops slowly over many years. But in cases of acute liver failure, can develop within days.

Acute liver failure can lead to many complications, including excessive bleeding and increased pressure in the brain. Another term for acute liver failure was fulminant hepatic failure.

Acute liver failure is a medical emergency requiring hospitalization. Some causes of acute liver failure can be treated with medication. But in other situations, liver transplantation may be the only cure for acute liver failure.


Cause

Acute liver failure occurs when liver cells are damaged significantly and no longer able to function. Acute liver failure can be caused by, among others:

1. An overdose of acetaminophen
Eating too much acetaminophen (Tylenol, etc.) are the most common cause of acute liver failure in the United States. Acute liver failure can occur when taking acetaminophen with a very large dose at once.

Or it can happen if you eat acetaminophen with a higher dose than recommended every day for several consecutive days, especially in people with chronic liver disease.

2. Prescription
Some prescription medications, including antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and anticonvulsants can cause acute liver failure.

3. Herbal Supplements
Medications and herbal supplements, including kava, ephedra, skullcap, and pennyroyal, has been associated with the incidence of acute liver failure.

4. Hepatitis and other viruses
Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis E can cause acute liver failure. Other viruses that can cause acute liver failure, including Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus.

5. Poison
Toxins that can cause acute liver failure including poisonous wild mushroom Amanita phalloides, which is sometimes confused with the edible mushroom species.

6. Autoimmune diseases
Liver failure can be caused by autoimmune hepatitis, which is a disease where the immune system attacks liver cells, causing inflammation and injury.

7. Vascular disease in the liver
Vascular diseases, such as Budd-Chiari syndrome, can cause blockage of blood vessels formed in the liver and causes acute liver failure.

8. Metabolic Diseases
Rare metabolic diseases, such as Wilson's disease and acute fatty liver because of pregnancy, a rare cause of acute liver failure.

9. Cancer
Cancer that begins in the liver or cancer that spreads to the liver from other organs in the body can cause liver failure.

Besides the causes mentioned above, many cases of acute liver failure has no obvious cause.

Symptom

Signs and symptoms of acute liver failure may include:
1. Eyeball yellowing (jaundice)
2. Pain in upper right abdominal area
3. Nausea
4. Throw up
5. Difficulty concentrating
6. Disorientation or confusion
7. Drowsiness

Treatment

People with acute liver failure are usually treated in intensive care units in hospitals. In many cases, treatment involves controlling the complications and allow time to heal liver failure.

Treatment of acute liver failure may include:
1. A cure for poisoning
Acute liver failure caused by acetaminophen overdose or mushroom poisoning were treated with drugs that can cure the effects of poison.

2. Liver transplantation
Acute liver failure can not be restored completely in many cases. In this situation, treatment may only be made by liver transplantation. During liver transplantation, the surgeon will take a damaged liver and replace it with a healthy liver from a donor.

Sources: MayoClinic