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Acute and Acute on Chronic Liver Failure: Mechanisms of Disease and Multi-systemic Involvement

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Liver Failure

Abstract

Acute Liver Failure (ALF) is a condition that not only results in severe liver injury, but also in widespread multi-organ dysfunction. While the term ALF is restricted to those without evidence of chronic liver disease, a new entity, Acute on Chronic Liver Failure (ACLF), has recently been described which shares many similarities with ALF and includes those with more prolonged liver injury. Both syndromes involve acute hepatic dysfunction with consequent systemic inflammation that leads to multi-systemic involvement. Better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the development of ALF and ACLF can lead to improved treatment algorithms with the chance for better clinical outcomes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA

    Vivek Lingiah, Mumtaz Niazi & Nikolaos Pyrsopoulos

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    Nikolaos Pyrsopoulos

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Lingiah, V., Niazi, M., Pyrsopoulos, N. (2020). Acute and Acute on Chronic Liver Failure: Mechanisms of Disease and Multi-systemic Involvement. In: Pyrsopoulos, N. (eds) Liver Failure. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50983-5_2

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