SUNDAY, Sept. 4 (HealthDay News) — Researchers have identified a potential key indicator for whether a person whose liver is shutting down should undergo a transplant versus other medical treatment.

Patients with fulminant hepatic liver failure (FHF), a sudden and severe shutdown of the liver, face a very poor prognosis if they are suffering from elevated levels of lactic acid in the blood, British and Australian researchers report in the September issue of Liver Transplantation.

The researchers studied the cases of 83 British patients hospitalized with FHF. They found that the blood lactate levels were significantly higher in those who died or underwent a transplant, compared with those who survived without a transplant.

“This raises the importance of close monitoring of serial arterial blood lactate levels,” the researchers conclude.

Although rare, FHF accounts for 7 percent of liver transplants. Because life-threatening complications can quickly develop with the disorder, time is of the essence in determining whether surgery is necessary.

More information

Penn State has more about fulminant hepatic liver failure.