Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Generation of a Rat Model of Acute Liver Failure by Combining 70% Partial Hepatectomy and Acetaminophen
09:44

Generation of a Rat Model of Acute Liver Failure by Combining 70% Partial Hepatectomy and Acetaminophen

Published on: November 27, 2019

Etiology and prognostic factors of acute liver failure in children

Sharandeep Kaur1, Praveen Kumar, Virendra Kumar

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Kalawati Saran Childrens Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India. pkpaed@gmail.com

Indian Pediatrics
|December 21, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Acute liver failure (ALF) in children is often caused by viral infections, with a 44% mortality rate. Prognostic factors for mortality include high-grade encephalopathy and specific blood markers.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric critical care medicine
  • Hepatology
  • Infectious diseases

Background:

  • Acute liver failure (ALF) is a severe condition with high mortality.
  • It presents with jaundice, encephalopathy, and coagulopathy, potentially leading to multiorgan failure.
  • ALF diagnosis requires no prior history of liver disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the causes of ALF in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients.
  • To identify prognostic factors associated with increased mortality in pediatric ALF.

Main Methods:

  • A study of 43 consecutive ALF patients admitted to a PICU.
  • Analysis of etiological factors and clinical data for prognostic assessment.

Main Results:

  • Etiology was identified in 91% of cases, with viral infections being the most common cause.
  • The overall mortality rate was 44%.
  • Factors linked to increased mortality included advanced encephalopathy grade, prolonged prodromal symptom to encephalopathy interval (>7 days), low blood glucose (<45mg/dL), high serum bilirubin (>10mg/dL), and abnormal admission pH (<7.35 or >7.45).

Conclusions:

  • Viral infections are a primary cause of pediatric ALF.
  • Several clinical and biochemical parameters serve as critical prognostic indicators for mortality in pediatric ALF patients.

More Related Videos

Inducing Acute Liver Injury in Rats via Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4) Exposure Through an Orogastric Tube06:12

Inducing Acute Liver Injury in Rats via Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4) Exposure Through an Orogastric Tube

Published on: April 28, 2020

Partial Lobular Hepatectomy: A Surgical Model for Morphologic Liver Regeneration05:37

Partial Lobular Hepatectomy: A Surgical Model for Morphologic Liver Regeneration

Published on: May 31, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test01:22

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test

In clinical practice, the direct measurement of hepatic blood flow to evaluate liver function presents significant challenges due to the intricate and specialized nature of the necessary techniques. Consequently, healthcare professionals often rely on empirical estimates derived from thorough patient examinations and liver function tests to gauge liver health. Among the tools at their disposal, the Child–Pugh and MELD scoring systems stand out for their ability to categorize and assess the...
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow01:26

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow

Chronic liver disease significantly impacts drug metabolism due to alterations in hepatic blood flow and enzyme accessibility. This disruption affects the body's pharmacokinetics—the movement and processing of drugs within the system. Key enzymes crucial for metabolizing medications become less accessible, changing how drugs are processed and utilized. Furthermore, liver disease influences the synthesis of plasma proteins, such as albumin and globulins, which play critical roles in drug binding...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Acute Kidney Injury I: Introduction01:22

Acute Kidney Injury I: Introduction

Introduction:Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) describes a swift decrease in kidney function occurring over hours to days, characterized by the kidneys' failure to remove waste products from the bloodstream. This leads to dangerous complications like metabolic acidosis, fluid overload, and electrolyte imbalances, such as hyperkalemia, which can cause life-threatening arrhythmias. AKI is common in both hospital and outpatient settings, often triggered by dehydration, sepsis, or exposure to nephrotoxic...
Acute Pancreatitis I: Introduction01:25

Acute Pancreatitis I: Introduction

Acute pancreatitis is the sudden inflammation of the pancreas caused by the early activation of digestive enzymes, leading to the autodigestion of pancreatic tissue. This results in local inflammation and, in severe cases, systemic complications.EtiologyUnderstanding the underlying causes is crucial, as identifying the etiology guides treatment and anticipates complications. Acute pancreatitis can be triggered by various factors, typically grouped into the following clinical categories.Biliary...
Acute Pancreatitis I: Introduction01:27

Acute Pancreatitis I: Introduction

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, an organ located behind the stomach. It can be either acute or chronic.
Acute pancreatitis is characterized by rapid inflammation of the pancreas, often caused by factors like gallstone blockage or excessive alcohol consumption. Chronic pancreatitis, on the other hand, is a slow, progressive inflammation that may result from long-term alcohol abuse, obstructions in the pancreatic duct, or genetic factors.
The causes of acute pancreatitis include: