Causes and Manifestations
Acute liver failure is an inflammatory process causing massive hepatocellular necrosis.
Whilst the numerous causes of acute liver failure are heterogenous, the clinical presentation and general management are the same.
Causes
Manifestations of liver dysfunction
|
Normal function |
Pathophysiological manifestations |
|---|---|
| Carbohydrate metabolism | Hypoglycaemia |
| Protein metabolism | Hyperammonemia and toxins causing encephalopathy |
| Bile secretion | Hyperbilirubinaemia causing jaundice |
| Drug detoxification | Drug toxicity |
| Synthesis and secretion of plasma proteins |
|
| Clearance of gut bacteria from portal system | Systemic infections resulting in sepsis |
| Sodium and water balance | Disruption leads to altered perception of volume status by kidneys and subsequent renal failure |