Shah Neelay, Campbell Hunter, Patel Vishal, Moormeier Jill
Neurology, University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, USA.
Internal Medicine, University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, USA.
Cureus. 2024 May 8;16(5):e59883. doi: 10.7759/cureus.59883. eCollection 2024 May.
Acute liver failure (ALF) exemplifies a rapid decline in liver function among individuals with previously healthy livers, often manifesting through symptoms such as jaundice, confusion, and potentially life-threatening complications. Timely medical intervention, and, in severe instances, liver transplantation, are essential for enhancing outcomes and averting further deterioration. While the causes of ALF are multifaceted, in developed nations, it predominantly arises from drug-induced liver injury. Treatment primarily revolves around supportive measures, with severe cases necessitating liver transplantation. In instances where acute overdose with acetaminophen serves as the instigating factor, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) emerges as a pivotal component of management, as indicated by the Rumack-Matthew nomogram. The Rumack-Matthew nomogram guides treatment for acetaminophen overdose by correlating serum levels with the risk of liver damage. If levels exceed a set threshold, NAC is administered to prevent toxicity by replenishing glutathione. The decision to administer NAC is typically guided by this clinical tool, which aids healthcare providers in determining the appropriate course of action. NAC assumes a critical role in ameliorating the detrimental effects of acetaminophen overdose, particularly in averting liver damage, thus holding significant importance in patient care and recovery. While chronic acetaminophen overdose cases leading to ALF may also benefit from NAC, the supporting evidence remains weak. In this context, we present a case of ALF stemming from chronic acetaminophen ingestion, managed with NAC when liver transplantation was not a viable option.
急性肝衰竭(ALF)表现为既往肝脏健康的个体肝功能迅速衰退,常通过黄疸、意识障碍等症状以及潜在的危及生命的并发症表现出来。及时的医疗干预,以及在严重情况下进行肝移植,对于改善预后和避免病情进一步恶化至关重要。虽然急性肝衰竭的病因是多方面的,但在发达国家,其主要由药物性肝损伤引起。治疗主要围绕支持性措施展开,严重病例需要进行肝移植。在对乙酰氨基酚急性过量作为诱发因素的情况下,根据鲁马克-马修列线图,N-乙酰半胱氨酸(NAC)成为治疗的关键组成部分。鲁马克-马修列线图通过将血清水平与肝损伤风险相关联来指导对乙酰氨基酚过量的治疗。如果水平超过设定阈值,则给予NAC以补充谷胱甘肽来预防毒性。给予NAC的决定通常由该临床工具指导,它有助于医疗保健提供者确定适当的行动方案。NAC在减轻对乙酰氨基酚过量的有害影响方面发挥着关键作用,特别是在避免肝损伤方面,因此在患者护理和康复中具有重要意义。虽然导致急性肝衰竭的慢性对乙酰氨基酚过量病例也可能从NAC中获益,但支持证据仍然薄弱。在此背景下,我们报告一例因长期摄入对乙酰氨基酚导致的急性肝衰竭病例,在无法进行肝移植时采用NAC进行治疗。