The first exclusive guide to acute liver failure aetiology, pathology and treatment.

Acute liver failure (ALF), or fulminant hepatic failure, is a distinct clinical syndrome that crosses medical disciplines. A relatively rare condition, ALF remains a major focus of clinical and research attention. With the advent of transplantation, the importance of understanding management of ALF has taken on a new urgency. In this first volume dedicated to ALF, the editors bring together a distinguished team of contributors to describe the etiology, pathology and treatment of this important syndrome. Also covered are consensus techniques in liver transplantation for ALF patients, as well as descriptions of artificial and bioartificial liver assist devices. A section on future treatments includes hepatocyte transplantation, auxiliary grafts and other temporary liver support. Notable for the high level of the authors' expertise, this comprehensive volume should prove invaluable.

Part I. Clinical Syndrome and Etiology: 1. Classification and clinical syndromes of Acute Liver Failure
2. Viral hepatitis and Acute Liver Failure
3. Drug hepatoxicity and Acute Liver Failure
4. Acetaminophen-related Acute Liver Failure
5. Unusual causes of Acute Liver Failure
6. Pediatric aspects of Acute Liver Failure
Part II. Mechanisms of Disease and Multisystem Involvement: 7. The role of cytokines and immune mechanisms in Acute Liver Failure
8. The pathology of Acute Liver Failure
9. Hepatic replication and liver regeneration
Part III. Intensive Care Management
10. Medical management of Acute Liver Failure
11. Circulatory derangements: monitoring and management of heart, kidney and brain
12. Brain edema and intracranial hypertension in Acute Liver Failure
13. Management of infection in Acute Liver Failure
Part IV. Transplantation: 14. Prognosis and consideration of transplantation
15. Liver transplantation in patients with Acute Liver Failure: the European experience
16. Liver transplantation in patients with Acute Liver Failure: the American experience
17. Auxiliary liver transplantation
Part V. Artificial and Bioartifical Liver Devices: 18. Extracorporeal liver support: historical background and critical analysis
19. Hepatocyte culture and bioreactor design for liver support systems
20. Clinical experience with an extracorporeal liver assist device (ELAD)
Part VI. Other Approaches: 21. Treatment of Acute Liver Failure by high volume plasmapheresis
22. Dialysis/adsorption techniques for Acute Liver Failure
23. Hepatocyte transplantation in liver failure and inherited metabolic disorders.