Acute liver failure is the appearance of severe complications rapidly after the first signs of
liver disease (such as
jaundice), and indicates that the liver has sustained severe damage (loss of function of 80–90% of liver cells). The complications are
hepatic encephalopathy and impaired
protein synthesis (as measured by the levels of
serum albumin and the
prothrombin time in the blood). The 1993 classification defines
hyperacute as within 1 week,
acute as 8–28 days and
subacute as 4–12 weeks. It reflects the fact that the pace of disease evolution strongly influences prognosis. Underlying
etiology is the other significant determinant of outcome.