title: Acute fulminant hepatic failure.
abstract: Fulminant hepatic failure is the rapid onset of life-threatening hepatic decompensation in patients who have no previous history of liver disease. This condition has a multifactorial etiology, including viral hepatitis and drug toxicity. At this time there is no specific therapy for FHF. However, early diagnosis and treatment of the complications--in particular, cerebral edema--may prolong survival and prevent irreversible neurologic complications. Once the diagnosis has been made, patients with FHF should promptly be transferred to a specialized liver care unit where liver transplantation is available. Liver transplantation is now the treatment of choice for patients with clinical characteristics suggesting a poor chance of survival.
authors.affiliation: Liver Transplantation Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wiesner
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis