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Acute Liver Failure – Signs and Symptoms

Acute liver failure develops very suddenly in an otherwise healthy person. Since it is a fatal condition, immediate medical help is of paramount importance. Acute liver failure causes hepatic encephalopathy leading to brain dysfunction, coma, and eventual death.

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Signs and Symptoms of Acute Liver Failure

New York (USA), June 24, 2013

Acute Liver Failure: Signs and Symptoms

Acute liver failure develops very suddenly in an otherwise healthy person. Since it is a fatal condition, immediate medical help is of paramount importance.

Common signs and symptoms of acute liver failure include:

– Yellowing of skin and eyeballs as in jaundice
– Vomiting
– Nausea
– Acute pain in upper abdominal region
– Difficulty in concentrating
– An overbearing sense of being unwell
– Disorientation or feeling confused
– Excessive sleepiness
– Changes in mental behavior and perception

Common medical conditions associated with acute liver failure include:

Coagulopathy: Since liver plays the pivotal role in almost all coagulation functions in body, acute liver failure hampers such functions. Platelets suffer both in qualitative and quantitative aspects.

Renal Failure: This is very commonly seen in almost all acute liver failure patients. It could be a pre-existing medical condition or due to poor production of urea.

Late Pregnancy: Acute liver failure sometimes manifests in late pregnancy. Common symptoms of acute liver failure in late pregnancy include dark amber-colored urine, decrease in appetite, vomiting, nausea, severe jaundice, and abdominal distention.

Inflammation and Infection: Systemic inflammation is a common occurrence associated with acute liver failure. This progresses into infection due to increased risk of sepsis culminating in multi organ failure.

Cerebral Edema and Encephalopathy: Acute liver failure causes hepatic encephalopathy leading to brain dysfunction, coma, and eventual death. Toxic substances accumulate within brain and increase intracranial pressure.

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