Hepatic failure

Last updated: Saturday, 04, December, 2010
Key Information Appropriate Tests

Bilirubin, ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, albumin, glucose, electrolytes, creatinine, urea; FBC, blood film, platelet count; PT, APTT, thrombin time, fibrinogen assay, fibrin degradation products.

Liver biopsy, if appropriate.

Acute/fulminant

Ammonium (plasma) may assist diagnosis, particularly if the patient is not jaundiced.

See also Hepatitis

Infection, especially

Drugs, especially

  • Paracetamol (overdose)
  • Halothane
  • Isoniazid

 

Paracetamol - serum. See also Figure 2. Risk of liver damage, Paracetemol overdose

Hepatic venous occlusion
  • Budd-Chiari syndrome

Fatty liver of pregnancy

Reye syndrome 

Wilson's disease

Chronic

 See Cirrhosis