[Fulminant hepatic failure]

Fulminant hepatic failure is a rare disorder with a high lethality. It is characterized by the development of acute hepatic symptoms and encephalopathy, in the absence of underlying chronic liver disease. The main causes are viruses, adverse drug effects and toxins. The major causes of death in patients with fulminant hepatic failure are cerebral edema, infections, gastrointestinal hemorrhage and renal failure, or a combination of these. Treatment of fulminant hepatic failure with a variety of medical therapies has hitherto been found to have little overall influence on outcome. With high volume plasmapheresis the clinical condition of the patients improves, and if there is no sign of spontaneous regeneration, emergency liver transplantation is the only solution.