BioScience Trends. 2007;1(1):7-9. (DOI: )
Rapid progression of encephalopathy in a patient with hepatitis B infection.
Takemura N, Sugawara Y, Tamura S, Kakeno J, Matsui Y, Makuuchi M
SUMMARY
The mortality rate of fulminant hepatic failure was high until liver transplantation was presented as a potential therapy. We encountered a patient with hyperacute fulminant hepatic failure due to hepatitis B virus infection. Living donor liver transplantation was planned but abandoned because her brain edema progressed too rapidly to complete the donor evaluation. The present case reveals the limitation of living donor liver transplantation as a treatment for hyperacute fulminant hepatic failure.
KEYWORDS: Fulminant hepatic failure, brain edema, hepatic encephalopathy, hyperacute, fulminant hepatitis B