This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Aetiology

Authoring team

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

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2025 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.