Acute Liver Failure
Category
Liver
REVIEWED BY
Our Biomedical Scientist
Reviewed based on
Literature Discussion
Last update
July 2020
What is Acute Liver Failure
Acute liver failure or fulminant hepatic failure is a loss of liver function that takes place over a period of days or weeks. If untreated, the condition can be fatal.
Sometimes the condition can be reversed with medical treatment though in some cases, a liver transplant may be needed.1
Symptoms
As the condition is acute, any sudden and extraordinary changes in mental state, personality, behavior, or if any of the following symptoms occur, medical attention must be provided immediately:1
- Acute yellowing of skin and eyeballs (jaundice)
- Soreness in the upper abdomen
Other symptoms may be:
- Abdominal swelling
- Nausea and purging
- Disorientation and confusion
- Tiredness/sleepiness
- A general sense of unpleasantness
Acute Liver Failure symptoms must be taken very seriously due to serious complications such as excessive bleeding and increased pressure in the brain.1
Cause
Acute liver failure can be caused by several risk factors that may be both external, involving the consumption of toxins and herbal supplements, and internal involving hepatitis, other viruses, and underlying diseases. However, the most common cause of Acute Liver Failure is an overdose of over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers and prescription drugs.1
The connection between Cannabinoids & Acute Liver Failure
Studies find that CBD and THC may have great therapeutic potential and may be used to help treat Acute Liver Failure. CBD and THC are well-known cannabinoids, however, they do not have the same psychoactive effects. THC is psychoactive while CBD does not possess psychoactive effects. According to WHO guidelines, the cannabidiol CBD is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile.
Preclinical studies proposed that CBD is involved in restoring liver function, normalizing 5-HT levels and improving brain pathology with normalization of brain function. 2
Preclinical data also proposes that THC and CBD may have therapeutic potential when treating acute liver failure. 3
The literature discussion is an overview of the published results from scientific studies investigating if and how cannabinoids can be beneficial in the treatment of Acute Liver Failure. The overview will be updated regularly to ensure the newest and most accurate information.
Cannabidiol (CBD) may be involved in restoration of liver function
In a mouse model of Hepatic encephalopathy , it was shown that acute liver failure is induced by thioacetamide . Also, increased brain 5-HT levels and severe impairment of cognitive function are caused by thioacetamide. Cognitive function, brain 5-HT levels, and liver function can be restored by 5mg/kg of CBD.2
Potential cannabinoid receptor involvement in liver failure
AMP kinase, which is normally under the control of CB2 regulates cerebral intracellular energy levels. In liver failure/hepatic encephalopathy, AMP kinase/energy levels are maintained through upregulation of CB2.5
Cannabinoid receptor CB2 stimulation may demonstrate protective effect.
In acute liver failure induced by galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide, CB2 stimulation demonstrated a protective/anti-inflammatory effect. This is through M1 to M2 shift in macrophages.6
Clinical trials are research studies that examine new treatments and evaluate their effects on human health outcomes.
Today, we are not able to provide any clinical trials about cannabinoids and Acute Liver Failure.
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acute-liver-failure/symptoms-causes/syc-20352863
- Avraham, Y., Grigoriadis, N., Poutahidis, T., Vorobiev, L., Magen, I., Ilan, Y., Mechoulam, R., and Berry, E. (2011). Cannabidiol improves brain and liver function in a fulminant hepatic failure-induced model of hepatic encephalopathy in mice. Br. J. Pharmacol. 162, 1650–1658. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/49706291_Cannabidiol_improves_brain_and_liver_function_in_a_fulminant_hepatic_failure-induced_model_of_hepatic_encephalopathy_in_mice
- https://ghmedical.com/endocannabinoid-system/diseases/acute-liver-failure
- Avraham, Y., Israeli, E., Gabbay, E., Okun, A., Zolotarev, O., Silberman, I., Ganzburg, V., Dagon, Y., Magen, I., Vorobia, L., et al. (2006). endocannabinoids affect neurological and cognitive function in thioacetamide-induced hepatic encephalopathy in mice. Neurobiol. Dis. 21, 237–245.
https://europepmc.org/article/med/16102970 - Dagon, Y., Avraham, Y., Ilan, Y., Mechoulam, R., and Berry, E.M. (2007). cannabinoids ameliorate cerebral dysfunction following liver failure via AMP-activated protein kinase. FASEB J. Off. Publ. Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol. 21, 2431–2441.
https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1096/fj.06-7705com - Tomar, S., E Zumbrun, E., Nagarkatti, M., and Nagarkatti, P.S. (2015). Protective role of cannabinoid receptor 2 activation in galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide-induced acute liver failure through regulation of macrophage polarization and microRNAs. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 353, 369–379.
https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/353/2/369
CANNABINOIDS & RECEPTORS
Below you find the plant cannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors, and endocannabinoids that are associated with the potential therapy.
If you have any further information relevant to the connection between Acute Liver Failure and cannabinoids or find any of the information inaccurate, outdated or incomplete please contact us here.
