Therapeutic Areas

Liver : Acute Hepatic Encephalopathy
in Acute Liver Failure

Acute Liver Failure is defined as the onset of hepatic encephalopathy and coagulation defects in patients without pre-existing liver disease. 

Over 50% of ALF occurrences are due to acetaminophen overdose, with approximately half of these being accidental overdoses.  Mortality is high at around 30%, and some of the deaths occur while patients are waiting for liver transplant.¹

In the U.S. alone, there are approximately 56,000 emergency room visits due to acetaminophen overdose each year², and 2,000 patients³ are treated for acute liver failure annually.  The acute hepatic encephalopathy associated with ALF can lead to coma and eventually death. About a third of patients with acute liver failure will require a liver transplantation.

See also: OCR-002