Brain edema in acute liver failure.
Acute liver failure (ALF) is a syndrome of rapidly deteriorating liver function that manifests as coagulopathy and encephalopathy in a previously healthy individual. This article analyzes the repercussions of ALF on the brain through a discussion of special features of this syndrome, important for the interpretation of neurologic findings. Of particular interest within the context of ALF are hepatic encephalopathy and the pathogenesis of brain edema in acute liver failure as well as its clinical and therapeutic aspects.
Blei
Andres T
AT
Division of Hepatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60610, USA. a-blei@northwestern.edu
D000641:Ammonia / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D003422:Critical Care; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis
D000641:Ammonia