What Is Liver Failure?
Article Sources
- 1. Gagan K et al. Acute liver failure. Medscape: Drugs and Diseases (2019) https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/177354-overview
- 2. Mayo Clinic. Diseases and Conditions: Liver Disease. (2020) https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/liver-problems/symptoms-causes/syc-20374502
- 3. Wolf, David C. et al. Cirrhosis. Medscape: Drugs and Diseases (2018) https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/185856-overview
The liver is the largest solid organ in the abdominal cavity, and it plays an equally important role in maintaining health. Filtering toxins from the blood is its most famous job, but it also performs many other functions vital to life.2Mayo Clinic. Diseases and Conditions: Liver Disease. (2020) https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/liver-problems/symptoms-causes/syc-20374502 Thus, when the liver is not functioning correctly, multiple systems are affected.
Liver failure is an uncommon but serious condition that can have a sudden or gradual onset. Impaired thinking is the most serious symptom of liver failure, and death can occur if the condition is not treated promptly.1Gagan K et al. Acute liver failure. Medscape: Drugs and Diseases (2019) https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/177354-overview
