Septemeber 2006. The life expectancy during this stage is said to be about 6 months after liver failure. If the patients are in the high-risk group, within next 90 days the risk factor of liver failure death is around 40 percent. Acute liver failure can be caused by hepatitis. A healthy liver fights infections, cleans the blood and helps digest food, indicates the American Liver Foundation. Chronic liver failure, also called end-stage liver disease, progresses over months, years, or decades. N-acetylcysteine is also sometimes helpful to people with acute liver failure that was not caused by too much acetaminophen. Taking this will help your body reduce how much medicine is absorbed in your gastrointestinal tract. There are also other things that can lead to acute liver failure. // Leaf Group Lifestyle, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease: Cirrhosis, "American Family Physician": Cirrhosis and Chronic Liver Failure; Joel Heidelbaugh, M.D. Damage to your liver builds up over stages, affecting your liver’s ability to function. When damaged, it is often able to regenerate; however, if the liver becomes inflamed and the inflammation is … Diseases such as hepatitis and Wilson’s disease, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and herpes simplex virus also increase your risk for acute liver failure. But a rarer condition known as acute liver failure happens rapidly (in as little as 48 hours) and can be difficult to detect at first. Symptoms of end-stage liver disease may include: Easy bleeding or bruising. It’s important to seek medical treatment at the first signs of trouble. Kidney failure can also complicate end-stage liver disease. It is also one of the most serious. Cirrhosis is the third most common cause of death in people ages 45 to 65, the Merck Manual states 1. Most often, liver failure happens gradually, over many years. These signs may include fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, and discomfort in your right side, just below your ribs. Acute liver failure refers to sudden liver failure, and that can occur within 48 hours. These signs may include fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, and discomfort in your right side, just below your ribs. Acute liver failure is a rare condition. It is a slowly advancing disease, where liver tissue is converted to what is called scar tissue, ultimately obstructing the liver’s ability to function efficiently. In addition to complications of decompensation such as ascites and encephalopathy, liver cancer can develop in people with end-stage liver disease--particularly in those whose disease was caused by alcohol or hepatitis. This is called acute liver failure and is usually a reaction to poisoning or a medication overdose. Symptoms of end-stage liver disease may include: Easy bleeding or bruising. If the patients are in the high-risk group, within next 90 days the risk factor of liver failure death is around 40 percent. Acetaminophen is a painkiller found in many over-the-counter and prescription medicines. Complications of decompensated cirrhosis include fluid accumulation in the abdomen called ascites, dilated blood vessels in the esophagus and stomach that can rupture and bleed heavily and encephalopathy, which is problems with thinking and memory. Other metabolic diseases that lead to chronic end-stage liver failure include primary biliary cholangitis, cystic fibrosis, Wilson disease and hematochromatosis 3. Breasts may enlarge and testes shrink in men due to the body’s inability to break down estrogen. Chronic liver failure happens over a long stretch of time. If viral hepatitis is the cause of your acute liver failure, your healthcare provider may give you a medicine depending on the type of viral hepatitis that is causing the failure. To avoid acetaminophen overdose, always follow the directions on the label when taking a drug that contains acetaminophen. Diuretics help reduce the fluid buildup in ascites. Lactulose improves encephalopathy by increasing the number of stools per day. Swelling of the brain is another side effect of acute liver failure. Also know, what are the symptoms of end stage liver failure? It’s the final stage of many liver diseases. Also know, what are the symptoms of end stage liver failure? In some cases, the cause for the disease is unknown. Your healthcare provider will probably do an evaluation to find out if you have a history of drug use, exposure to toxins, and to check for signs of hepatitis. The last stage of liver failure, cirrhosis, usually develops over a number of years-- although acute liver failure can occur. Key points about acute liver failure Vaccines are available to prevent hepatitis A and B. If there are changes in surgeries or other scheduled appointments, your provider will notify you. He or she may also do blood tests. At this stage, life expectancy depends on the health and disease condition, patient’s age and treatment response. Acute liver failure can occur from severe infection or overdose of medications toxic to the liver, such as acetaminophen. Perkins also has extensive experience working in home health with medically fragile pediatric patients. Poisoning and medication overdose are common causes of acute liver failure. A registered nurse with more than 25 years of experience in oncology, labor/delivery, neonatal intensive care, infertility and ophthalmology, Sharon Perkins has also coauthored and edited numerous health books for the Wiley "Dummies" series. Acute liver failure can happen in as little as 48 hours. Acute liver failure can happen in as little as 48 hours. You can reduce your risk of getting viral hepatitis by avoiding contact with the blood or feces of an infected person. A healthy liver fights infections, cleans the blood and helps digest food, indicates the American Liver Foundation. This often happens right after an overdose of medicine or poisoning. General Information | Self-Checker | Donate and Lend Support | Staff Appreciation | Get Email Alerts. It's the final stage of many liver diseases. Researcher classified the seriousness of the end-stage liver failure cases as low, moderate & high-risk category. Talk with your pharmacist or healthcare provider if you have any questions. Learn about our expanded patient care options and visitor guidelines. Dialysis may be necessary if kidney failure occurs. Prothrombin time measures your blood’s ability to thicken (coagulate). But a rarer condition known as acute liver failure happens rapidly (in as little as 48 hours) and can be difficult to detect at first. However, people with controlled HIV can get a liver transplant. Alcohol abuse is the most common cause of cirrhosis, but hepatitis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis--which often affects obese people--and metabolic diseases also cause cirrhosis. If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.