Aetiology
The aetiology of acute liver failure is subject to great geographical variation, dependent on endemic infection and social behaviour - the predilection for paracetamol as a method of parasuicide in the UK is reflected in the emergence of this drug as the greatest aetiological factor.
Other causes include:
- viral hepatitis:
- hepatitis B casues up to 70% if cases
- superinfection with delta agent
- drug reactions:
- up to 10% of cases
- halothane
- isoniazid
- methyldopa
- phenytoin
Rarer causes include:
- vascular causes
- hyperthermia
- hepatic vein obstruction, the Budd-Chiari syndrome
- massive malignant infiltration
- Wilson's disease
- Leptospirosis / Weil's disease
- autoimmune disease
- carbon tetrachloride
- Amanita phalloides (the death cap mushroom)
- Reye's syndrome
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