What is liver failure?

Acute liver failure (ALF) occurs when the liver becomes very damaged in a short period of time. ALF has many causes, including metabolic conditions, toxicity from medications and viruses.

If identified early, ALF can sometimes be treated with medication, but roughly half of the children who develop ALF will require a liver transplant.

At The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, children with liver failure are evaluated and treated by hepatologists and gastroenterologists from the Biesecker Pediatric Liver Center, the Liver Transplant Program, and the Division of Gastroenterology (GI), Hepatology and Nutrition.