Acute liver failure(ALF) is a condition when liver loses its ability to perform its function rapidly.

Acute liver failure refers to the rapid development of acute liver injury with impaired synthetic function and encephalopathy thus loses its ability to function normally. Commonly, Liver failure develops slowly over the course of time, but in case of acute liver failure, it develops in matter of days.

Acute liver failure is a medical emergency which requires hospitalization. In some cases it can be managed with proper medication; otherwise liver transplantation is the only alternative cure for AFL.
Acute liver failure encompasses both:

Fulminant hepatic failure:
Fulminant hepatic failure is generally used to describe the development of encephalopathy within 8 weeks of the onset of symptoms in a patient with a previously healthy liver.

Sub fulminant hepatic failure:
Subfulminant hepatic failure is reserved for patients with liver disease up to 26 weeks before the development of hepatic encephalopathy.The development of cerebral edema is the major cause of mortality in patients with acute liver failure.

Basics:
An increase of intracranial blood volume and cerebral blood flow is a factor in acute liver failure.

Viral hepatitis E and autoimmune liver disease are more common in women than in men

Atypical causes of viral hepatitis and fulminant hepatic failure include the following:

Cytomegalovirus

Herpes simplex virus

Epstein Barr virus

Autoimmune diseases

Drugs

Portal vein thrombosis

Hepatic vein thrombosis

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis E

Fructose intolerance

Wilson disease.

Some of the herbs are also associated with liver failure – Herbal supplements including kava, skullcap and pennyroyal.

Nausea and vomiting

Pain in upper right area of abdomen

Yellowing of skin and eyeballs

Sleepiness

Difficulty concentrating

Disorientation or confusion

• Patient history
• Physical examination
• Use of alcohol
• Any medications
• Family history

Acute renal failure

Hemorrhage

Seizures

Infections

Cerebral edema

• Eclampsia
• Preeclampsia
• Multiorgan failure
• Alcoholic hepatitis

• People with acute liver failure are treated in the intensive care unit of a hospital.
• Medications for preventing bleeding
• Screening for infections
• Medications for fluid reduction in brain
• Liver transplant
• Because of the complexities involved, patients with ALF should be managed in an intensive care unit in centers with an active liver transplant program .

Antimonium crudum
• Excess irritability, thick white tongue
• Tendency to grow fat, cannot bear heat of sun
• Sulky, with no wish to speak
• Anger at every little attention

Ignatia amara
• Chief remedy for hysteria, adapted to nervous temperament.
• Rapid change in mental and physical condition.
• Effects of grief and sorrow, silent brooding
• Lack of communication

Chamomilla
• Sensitive, irritable, thirsty hot and numb patients
• Child wants many things but refuses when given
• Impatient, sensitive to pain, always complaining
• Complaints from anger
• Mental calmness contraindicates

Chelidonium majus
• A prominent liver remedy, constant pain under inferior angle of right scapula.
• Paralytic drawing and lameness in single parts
• Hydrocele , great lethargy , distention in abdomen
• Nausea, vomiting, better taking hot water

Lycopodium
• Liver functioning greatly disturbed.
• Emaciation with debility in morning
• Ascites in liver disease
• Lack of vital heat

Nux vomica
• Flatulence distention, spasmodic colic
• Liver engorged , weakness
• Sour, bitter eructation , weight and pain in stomach.
• Desire for fatty food

Natrium sulphuricum
• Liver remedy, feels every change from dry to wet
• Symptoms worse in rainy weather
• Vomiting sour , acid dyspepsia
• Hepatitis ,flatulence with burning in abdomen

Phosphorus
• Yellow atrophy of liver and sub-acute hepatitis
• Fatty degeneration’s of blood vessels
• Pain in stomach relieved by cold food
• Bad effects of salty food.