What causes acute liver failure

The symptoms of acute liver failure are caused by hepatitis B infection, which is more common in some remote areas, and special drugs can also cause liver failure. Therefore, it is recommended that patients with acute liver failure receive treatment in a timely manner, otherwise it will affect their life safety. Regarding the causes and complications of acute liver failure, it is recommended that everyone can understand the several causes introduced in the article and take preventive measures.

What causes acute liver failure?

1. Viruses

Globally, more than 50% of deaths from acute liver failure are reported from developing countries, with hepatitis A and E infections being the main causes. Of course, acute liver failure can also occur after hepatitis B infection, which is more common in some Asian and Mediterranean countries.

2. Drug-induced liver injury

Drug-induced liver injury accounts for approximately 50% of cases of acute liver failure in the United States. This injury may be dose-dependent and predictable. Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity is the most common cause of acute liver failure in the United States.

Specific drug-induced liver injury is relatively uncommon, even in patients exposed to potentially hepatotoxic drugs. Only a small number of patients with drug-induced liver injury progress to hepatic encephalopathy and acute liver failure. Other factors, such as older age, increased blood transaminase and bilirubin levels, and coagulation disorders, are associated with an increased risk of death.

3. Other reasons

In patients with primary critical cardiac, circulatory, or respiratory failure, acute ischemic hepatocellular injury or hypoxic hepatitis may occur. Other possible causes include tumor infiltration, acute Budd-Chiari syndrome, heat stroke, ingestion of mushrooms, and metabolic diseases such as Wilson's disease.

How to prevent acute liver failure

First of all, for patients caused by chronic viral hepatitis infection factors, they should pay attention to insisting on buying or checking liver function or hepatitis B virus conditions every month to understand whether there is a recurrence or the extent of liver damage. If abnormal liver function is found, timely treatment measures should be taken. When patients with chronic viral hepatitis develop jaundice, they should be hospitalized and be alert to the occurrence of liver failure.

Secondly, for those who have been taking or injected with antiviral drugs for treatment, you must be careful not to stop the medication blindly and without authorization. Once the medication is stopped, the virus will replicate in large quantities, and the immune response caused will cause acute liver failure. It is also important to insist on regular review of liver function, hepatitis B virus quantification, etc., and to determine whether there are any viral changes, and adjust the treatment plan in a timely manner if any occur. The criteria for stopping medication must be based on the drug's regulations and doctor's instructions.

Secondly, for some patients who suffer from liver failure due to long-term and heavy drinking, they should pay attention to abstaining from alcohol at this time.

You must be cautious when using some medicines, especially some new medicines. For patients with drug-induced liver failure, drugs are deadly. No matter what kind of drug it is, they should understand the principle that "all drugs are poisonous" and avoid abusing them.

The above is an introduction to the causes of acute liver failure and how to prevent it. Acute liver failure is very harmful to patients, and in severe cases it can threaten the patient's life. Therefore, patients with liver disease should pay attention, actively seek treatment, and not let their negligence lead to a life-threatening condition. Finally, I hope the above introduction can help everyone.