Acute Liver Failure
Acute liver failure (ALF) and acute liver injury (ALI) observational study: a multicenter group to study ALF and ALI
The aim of this study is to gather prospective demographic and clinical data on ALF patients and ALI patients with varying etiologies. Blood samples, clinical data, and survival will be obtained x 7 days.
Please contact Suzanne Welch at 734-936-4886, or Robert Fontana for referrals or questions.
N-Acetylcysteine in Acute Liver Failure
A multicenter trial to study acute liver failure: N-acetylcysteine open label use study
Objective
To conduct an Open Label study for the use of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in non-acetaminophen acute liver failure (ALF). The format is a short course (72 hours) of intravenous NAC in patients with ALF for whom no antidote or other specific treatment is available.
Inclusion Criteria
- Between 18 and 70 years of age
- Hepatic illness or jaundice ≤ 26 weeks
- Encephalopathy
- Coagulopathy (INR ≥ 1.5)
Exclusion Criteria
- Patients under age 18 or over 70 years of age.
- Acetaminophen or mushroom poisoning suspected
- Diagnosis of shock liver (ischemic hepatopathy),
- Acute liver failure of pregnancy or the HELLP syndrome (pregnancy associated hemolysis and coagulopathy).
- Intrahepatic malignancy
- Patients who exhibit signs of cerebral herniation
- Patients who demonstrate the presence of intractable arterial hypotension (arterial systolic blood pressure equal to or below 70 mmHg) present, or require inotropic drugs at the time of enrollment.
- Severe sepsis (temperature >39°C and/or significant bacteremia) present at the time of enrollment.
