Liver failure can be acute or chronic, caused by factors such as overdose, alcohol abuse, malnutrition, and certain diseases like hepatitis. Acetaminophen overdose, toxic substances, and hemochromatosis are also potential causes. Chronic liver failure can result from long-term lifestyle habits or disease. Hepatitis B and C are primary causes of liver failure, while hemochromatosis is a rare genetic condition.
Liver failure occurs when damage to the organ causes it to function improperly and shut down. Acute liver failure is a sudden condition, often caused by overdose or poisoning. Chronic liver failure is the result of long-term progressive degeneration and is often caused by alcohol abuse, malnutrition, and cirrhosis. Other causes of liver failure include certain diseases, such as hepatitis and hemochromatosis.
Some causes of liver failure are sudden, occasional conditions that cause the organ to become overloaded and shut down. One of the most common causes of liver failure is acetaminophen overdose, which occurs when a person takes too many over-the-counter pain relievers that contain acetaminophen. Some prescription medicines and homeopathic herbal supplements are also known to cause liver failure and may need to be avoided by anyone with a history of liver problems. Ingestion of toxic substances, such as poisonous mushrooms, can also overload the liver and is one of the most dangerous causes of liver failure.
Unlike acute liver failure, the causes of chronic liver failure can accumulate over months, years, or even decades, due to lifestyle habits or disease. Long-term heavy drinking is often linked to chronic liver failure, as regular overloading of the liver can lead to permanent damage. Cirrhosis, a degenerative liver disease linked to alcoholism and obesity, can also lead to liver failure, as healthy organ tissue is slowly replaced by damaged and dysfunctional scar tissue. Malnutrition can deprive the liver of much-needed nutrition, eroding its ability to process waste and leading to permanent tissue damage over time.
The family of viral diseases known as hepatitis are considered to be one of the primary causes of liver failure. Hepatitis B and C are both spread through contact with infected blood or body fluids and can be transmitted through unprotected sex, sharing hypodermic needles, through the birth canal, and rarely through transfusions of infected blood. Both forms of the virus attack the liver directly, greatly increasing the chances of liver disease, liver cancer, and liver failure. Other forms of the virus, such as hepatitis A and E, are also sometimes considered potential causes of liver failure.
One of the rarest causes of liver failure is hemochromatosis, a genetically inherited liver problem. This condition causes the liver to absorb excess iron from food. This extra iron is then stored in the liver, leading to chronic liver problems, such as cirrhosis. Symptoms of this condition may not manifest until a carrier reaches middle age, once iron accumulation begins to cause noticeable problems.
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