Fulminant Hepatitis
| Overview |
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- Fulminant Hepatitis is a complication of acute viral hepatitis that manifests as rapid functional decompensation of the liver.
| Etiology and Pathogenesis |
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- Fulminant Hepatitis occurs in the context of acute viral hepatitis. It is rare during hepatitis A or C virus infection. Most cases are due to Hepatitis B Virus infection with or without Hepatitis D Virus. It is most likely the result of a massive, overly-exuberant immune response to the presence of virus, resulting in rapid inflammatory damage to the liver.
| Clinical Consequences |
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- Overview
- Fulminant Hepatitis is characterized by certain signs of hepatic failure that can manifest rapidly and thus does not include those that require chronic timescales to develop.
- Symptomology
- Hepatic Encephalopathy: Characterized by altered mental status, confusion, somnolence, or coma
- Brain Edema: May occur, possibly resulting in cerebral herniation
- Hepatorenal Syndrome: Which may result in acute renal failure
- Generalized Edema: Due to rapid hypoalbuminemia
- Prolonged Prothrombin Time (PT): Due to reduced synthesis of coagulation proteins
- Jaundice: Due to hyperbilirubinemia
- ARDS may result
- Prognosis
- Fulminant Hepatitis has a high degree of mortality and is rapidly fatal.