Aetiology And Outcome Of Acute Liver Failure In Zagazig University Hospitals

ALF is a rare disease and few data are available about the etiology and outcome of this condition in Egypt.The most widely accepted definition of ALF includes evidence of coagulation abnormality, usually INR > 1.5, and any degree of mental alteration (encephalopathy) in a patient without preexisting cirrhosis and with an illness of less than 26 weeks duration. Exclusion of an underlying liver disease (alcoholic hepatitis, chronic HBV and HCV, autoimmune hepatitis) is mandatory, as management of acute-on-chronic liver failure differs from ALF treatment.Our study was a case study tracing the aetiology and outcome of acute liver failure in Zagazig University Hospitals (ZUH) over one year.Our study included a total number of seven patients. There were different etiologies. Indeterminate etiology was recorded in two cases. The other cases were diagnosed as acute hepatitis A, acute hepatitis B, autoimmune hepatitis, halothane induced, and acute fatty liver with pregnancy.These patients were managed in an Intensive Care Unit. The first therapeutic approach consists of intensive care support until treatment for specific etiologies can be started. There was tight monitoring and treatment for those patients as many complications can develop causing the high rates of morbidity and mortality of acute liver failure. Liver support systems are therapeutic options to be in clinical trials in this field except for being a bridge for liver transplantation.There was high mortality rate in our study. Five cases died while the other two cases survived. The cases who survived were those who were diagnosed as acute hepatitis A and acute fatty liver with pregnancy