Fulminant Hepatic Failure: Diagnosis and Management

Abstract

Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is a condition resulting in rapid deterioration of liver function often followed by a cascade of fatal conse-quences. This rare syndrome is incited by a catastrophic insult to the liver. The causes of FHF can be classified into six general catego-ries: viral infections, drugs and toxins, and cardiovascular, metabolic, miscellaneous, and indeterminate causes. FHF can result in sudden onset of hepatic encephalopathy, coagulopathy, jaundice, and multisystem organ failure. An improvement in the morbid-ity and mortality associated with FHF has been seen over the last several years with an advanced understanding of the mechanisms of injury, early initiation of intensive medical therapy, and the use of orthotopic liver trans-plant. This chapter will review the topic of FHF with a focus on the etiologies and clinical management.