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Abstract Details
Acute Hepatitis B with Pancreatitis and Cholecystitis Leading to Acute Liver Failure and Death
Albert AR1, Valencia R2, Smereck JA2. Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med. 2018 Aug 15;2(4):304-308. doi: 10.5811/cpcem.2018.7.38344. eCollection 2018 Nov.
Author information
1
University of Pennsylvania, Department of Emergency Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
2
Georgetown University Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia.
Abstract
Acute liver failure is defined as severe acute liver injury, concurrent with encephalopathy and loss of hepatic synthetic function, in a patient without known pre-existing liver disease. Evaluation of acute liver failure in the emergency department should focus on identification of treatable causes. Acute liver failure from acute hepatitis B infection is a rare but potentially lethal occurrence. Multi-organ dysfunction from acute liver failure may be exacerbated by metabolic and inflammatory reactions associated with acute pancreatitis, which accompanies approximately 5% of cases of acute viral hepatitis. Transplant-free survival rate with liver failure from acute hepatitis B is unfortunately less than 20%.