Hypothermia in acute liver failure.
The development of encephalopathy in patients with acute liver injury defines the occurrence of liver failure. The encephalopathy of acute liver failure is characterized by brain edema which manifests clinically as increased intracranial pressure. Despite the best available medical therapies a significant proportion of patients with acute liver failure die due to brain herniation. The present review explores the experimental and clinical data to define the role of hypothermia as a treatment modality for increased intracranial pressure in patients with acute liver failure.
Jalan
Rajiv
R
Liver Failure Group, Institute of Hepatology, London, United Kingdom. r.jalan@ucl.ac.uk
Rose
Christopher
C
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D022124:Hyperammonemia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome