Acute liver failure: Management update and prognosis

Abstract

Acute liver failure is a rare but serious syndrome, with an incidence of approximately 2,000 to 3,000 cases per year in North America. Its pathophysiology and clinical course vary, depending on the cause of the primary liver injury, and can lead to high morbidity and mortality or the need for liver transplantation, despite available therapies. This syndrome involves excessive activation of the immune system, with damage in other organs, contributing to its high mortality rate. The most accepted definition includes liver injury with hepatic encephalopathy and coagulopathy within the past 26 weeks in a patient with no previous liver disease. The main causes are paracetamol poisoning, viral hepatitis, and drug-induced liver injury, among others. Identifying the cause is crucial, given that it influences prognosis and treatment. Survival has improved with supportive measures, intensive therapy, complication prevention, and the use of medications, such as N-acetylcysteine. Liver transplantation is a curative option for nonresponders to medical treatment, but adequate evaluation of transplantation timing is vital for improving results. Factors such as patient age, underlying cause, and severity of organ failure influence the post-transplant outcomes and survival.