Acute Liver Failure occurs when a lot of the cells in the liver die in a short period of time, so that most of the liver's function is lost.  Acute Liver Failure, sometimes called ALF, usually develops rapidly and demands immediate care.

The ALF patient initially has all the symptoms of Hepatitis, including fatigue, nausea, vomiting, or jaundice (yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes).  At a certain point, most patients become confused or sleepy. They can also bleed from the gums or stomach, and they can bruise easily due to poor blood clotting.  Early on, ALF is difficult to diagnose because it resembles other illnesses and is quite rare.

Since ALF progresses so quickly, time is of the essence.  It is important that patients with ALF be seen at a center with experience in treating ALF and in liver transplantation.  ALF should not be confused with other types of liver failure due to Cirrhosis or Chronic Hepatitis, which normally take years to develop.  The various causes of ALF include reactions to prescriptions drugs, acetaminophen (such as Tylenol®) overdoses, and viruses. Sometimes no cause can be found.

ALF STUDY