Surviving Acute Liver Failure
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April 26, 2023
ALF is profoundly higher in those who have
coagulopathy [ the body’s inability to coagulate] and/or renal failure.
Studies show it takes at least 10 grams of paracetamol to induce ALF,
however, the norm is over 30 grams.
Clinical acute liver failure is a progressive
response to multi-organ failure. The severity depends upon the metabolic
consequences of the loss of liver function. Systemic effects of toxins
resulting in a necrotic liver and the rate of failure play a role in the
severity and prognosis of the outcome.
Encephalopathy [condition of damage or malfunction
of the brain] caused by severe liver impairment results in the patient
having abnormal mental activity, drowsiness, euphoria, confusion, or
deep coma. Cerebral involvement from ALF occurs in 75 to 80 % of
patients, with grade 4 encephalopathy as the primary cause of death.
Treating edema:
The use of Mannitol or other diuretics to reduce
excess fluid in the body [liver, cerebral, kidney] has been shown to
improve survival rates with ALF patients with grade 4 encephalopathy;
reducing the excess brain fluid and reducing ICP [intracerebral
pressure].
N-acetylcysteine [NAC] has been shown to be a
benefit. While some may believe it has no direct effect on ICP, helping
to reduce the edema in the brain through increased cerebral blood flow
could reduce the fluid. As a free radical scavenger NAC can provide
further benefits.
Cream of Tartar [potassium bitartrate] a by-product
of the fermentation process in wine making, used as a stabilizer in food
products was said to be used in the 18th century to reduce
edema in patients suffering from ALF. Giving the patient a small amount,
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon, was shown to reduce the edema.
Patients with ALF are prone to infections and it
can be the ultimate killer. Studies have found isolated microorganisms
were predominately gram-positive bacteria, while other studies have
shown gram-negative [especially E.coli ] being the most predominant,
followed by Staphylococcus. Still, there are fungal infections, a third
being Candida.
Hypoglycemia is the most common metabolical
dysfunction seen in ALF patients due to the loss of glucose caused by
loss of liver cell function. Giving the patient glucose as a prophylaxis
or treatment of hypoglycemia benefits the patient but does not seem to
change or benefit the outcome directly.
Pulmonary complications including edema, pneumonia,
or tracheobronchitis are most common and appear to be caused by
metabolic and toxic factors increased due to liver and/or organ failures
brought on by ALF. An increased susceptibility to infections is a
leading cause of these complications.
ALF, despite all mainstream medical advancements in
intensive care and developments in new mainstream treatment modalities,
remains a condition with high mortality. Bioartificial liver support or
hepatocyte transplantation [ hepatocytes being 80 percent of the liver
are transplanted to create a new liver mass], may be options to change
the outcomes of liver failure in the future.
In conclusion, liver failure that can and does
quickly escalate into acute organ failure, organ edema and
encephalopathy remains a condition with a poor prognosis.
The overindulgence of medications like paracetamol for pain and
inflammation needs addressing. Furthermore, the wide use of prescribed
medications for a sundry of complaints, as well the accepted use of
chemotherapy drugs for treating cancer and other autoimmune disease may
well be the predominant cause of ALF. Cancer patients commonly have
liver involvement due to metastases. Such impairment sets up the liver
for failure when chemotherapy drugs stress and damage the liver. ALF is
a common cause of mortality in cancer patients. We know the use of
non-toxic treatments can greatly change the outcome yet are not
recognized or acknowledged by mainstream practitioners. Using
anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal modalities for infections
benefits the outcome. We have stopped the decline in ALF cancer patients
using Paradigm Research’s Cell -F- Defense having pulmonary infections,
edema using Cream of Tartar treatment, and the Triple Liver Treatment to
help restore function to the liver. Surviving ALF is possible, that we
know.
Contact Jesicha’s Hope [
www.jesichashope.org
] to discuss further your interest in minimizing ALF mortality. We do
not treat, or offer medical advice but give tools and information to
heal oneself. We believe the
body knows how to heal. Give it the tools and eliminate toxins then
watch healing begin.
References:
Williams R. New directions in acute liver
failure. J R Coll Physicians Lond 1994
Ellis A, Wendon J. Circulatory,
respiratory, cerebral, and renal derangements in acute liver failure:
Pathophysiology and management. Semin Liver Dis 1996
Canalese J, Gimson AE, Davis C, Mellon PJ,
Davis M, Williams R. Controlled trial of dexamethasone and mannitol for
cerebral edema of fulminant hepatic failure. Gut 1982
Keays R, Harrison PM, Wendon J, et al.
Intravenous acetylcysteine in paracetamol induced fulminant hepatic
failure: a prospective controlled trial. Br Med J 1991
Canalese J, Gimson AE, Davis C, Mellon PJ,
Davis M, Williams R. Controlled trial of dexamethasone and mannitol for
cerebral edema of fulminant hepatic failure. Gut 1982
Laggner A, Kleinberger G, Haller J,
Czembirek H, Drumi W, Lenz K. Pulmonale Komplikationen bei Coma
hepaticum. Leber Magen Darm 1982
Pathophysiology and management of acute
liver failure E. Pyleris, G. Giannikopoulos, K. Dabo, ANNALS OF
GASTROENTEROLOGY 2010