Liver failure is a condition in which the liver is unable to perform its functions. It may be the result of a chronic disease, but sometimes the problem arises suddenly. What are the causes and symptoms of liver failure? How is her treatment going?
Liver failureis a condition in which the liver is partially or completely unable to function effectively, i.e. synthesize, metabolize, store, filter, and more. Liver failure can be classified as chronic and acute.
Chronic liver failureis a permanent and progressive liver dysfunction that is a consequence of chronic disease. This condition is characterized by the development of hepatic encephalopathy (disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system caused by toxins that enter the body due to liver damage) and plasma bleeding disorders.
This group includes mainly cirrhosis of the liver, as well as chronic hepatitis, chronic lobular hepatitis, lupus-like hepatitis, and unspecified chronic hepatitis.
In turn,acute liver failureis a potentially reversible, sudden, permanent and progressive liver dysfunction (without prior diagnosis of liver disease) characterized by the onset of hepatic encephalopathy 4 to 26 weeks after the injury liver and plasma coagulation disorders.
Liver failure - causes
Chronic liver failure is caused by many factors, the most common of which are chronic alcohol abuse, improper nutrition, viral hepatitis (HBV, less often HCV or other viruses causing hepatitis), liver cancer.
In turn, acute liver failure usually occurs as a result of poisoning with drugs (paracetamol or other hepatotoxic drugs) or toxins (most often with toadstool toxin). Acute liver failure can also be a consequence of fulminant hepatitis B, hepatic vein thrombosis and other liver diseases (e.g. chronic autoimmune hepatitis, Wilson's disease) and systemic diseases (e.g. shock or sepsis).
Liver failure - symptoms
Chronic failureliver may be asymptomatic. Only when most of this organ is damaged, symptoms of failure appear. Initially, there is weakness, as well as digestive system ailments, such as:
- anorexic
- weight loss
- feeling full after eating
- poor fat and alcohol tolerance
- abdominal pain on the right side
- flatulence
- unpleasant belching after eating
- nausea
Then there is jaundice, liver enlargement, swelling around the ankles, esophageal or rectal varices. Ascites, which is the presence of fluid in the abdominal cavity, usually indicates that your liver failure is severely advanced.
Symptoms of acute failure are very similar to those that appear in the advanced stage of the chronic form of the disease, and in addition, there are disturbances in consciousness, and contact with the patient is impossible. These symptoms appear from 4 to 26 weeks after liver damage.
The last stage of hepatic failure is profound metabolic disorders (metabolic acidosis) and hepatic coma, with consequent death.
Liver failure treatment
Both in the case of acute and chronic liver failure, a low-protein diet is important (protein intake should be max. 60 g per day). Pharmacological treatment is also used, but the most effective treatment method is liver transplantation.
Transplant in chronic liver failure should be performed when other treatment options are exhausted and symptoms of advanced liver failure appear. However, transplantation should be performed before multiple organ failure occurs. In the case of acute liver failure, it is imperative to perform a transplant as soon as possible. According to statistics, about 60 percent survive after a liver transplant. patients.