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. 2020 Sep;20(5):505-508.
doi: 10.7861/clinmed.2020-0612.

Acute liver failure

Mohammed A Arshad  1 , Nicholas Murphy  2 , Mansoor N Bangash  3
Affiliations

Acute liver failure

Mohammed A Arshad et al. Clin Med (Lond). 2020 Sep.

Abstract

Acute liver failure is a rare syndrome and is primarily caused by paracetamol toxicity in developed nations. Survival for patients with acute liver failure has steadily improved over the last few decades from approximately 20% to greater than 60%. This marked improvement in survival has been due to a combination of improvements in medical practice and the use of emergency liver transplantation in selected patients. Early recognition and timely initial management in the non-specialist centre can significantly improve outcomes. Patients should be simultaneously discussed with a transplant centre and referred to critical care. Close liaison with transplant centres to ensure timely transfer in deteriorating patients is important.

Keywords: Acute liver failure; drug overdose; liver transplantation; paracetamol; patient selection.

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Figures

Fig 1.
Fig 1.
O’Grady classification of acute liver failure.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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