Overview

The relationship between the liver and kidneys is a tight-knit one. The liver is the second largest internal organ in the body and can be found on the right-hand side of your body, near your stomach. The kidneys are bean-shaped and located right below the rib cage on both sides of your spine. When waste is removed from the liver, it is then transported to the kidneys to be filtered and removed from the body in the form of urine.

Both the liver and kidneys are vital organs within the body, and while they serve very different purposes, when liver function has been impaired, it greatly impacts the kidney’s ability to function as well. Here we will explore the types and causes of liver and kidney failure.

Types and Causes of Liver Failure

Liver failure is generally categorized into two different types – acute or chronic. Both types can have an effect on your kidneys and possibly lead to liver and kidney failure, described further below.

Acute

Acute liver failure occurs in patients who typically do not have existing liver disease. Liver failure could occur from, for example, another disease or illness occurring in the body such as cancer or hepatitis A, B or E, or from a drug-related injury such as acetaminophen overdose, prescription medications, or herbal supplements.

Symptoms of acute liver failure include yellowing of the skin and eyes, pain in the upper right abdomen, a swollen stomach, nausea and/or vomiting, and breath that has a musty or sweet odor.

Some cases of acute liver failure may be able to be reversed with medical treatment. However, many times a liver transplant is still necessary.

Chronic

According to the CDC, 4.5 million Americans have been diagnosed with chronic liver disease, comprising of 1.8% of adults. As indicated by its name, chronic liver failure develops over months or years. It is often the result of cirrhosis of the liver, where damage to the liver results in scar tissue that builds up and replaces healthy liver tissue. This stops the liver from being able to function properly. Cirrhosis is commonly caused by long-term alcohol abuse, hepatitis, and fatty liver disease not caused by alcohol.

Symptoms of chronic liver failure may include fluid buildup in the stomach, vomiting blood, gallstones, yellowing of the skin and eyes, unexpected weight loss, and easy bruising of the skin. If the cause of cirrhosis can be determined, it is possible to reverse the liver damage or slow it down. In severe cases, treatment may not be effective, and a liver transplant may be required.

Liver and Kidney Failure

Kidney failure oftentimes occurs after liver disease or failure, and patients with chronic liver disease are more susceptible to having acute kidney injury. In a recent study, it was found that the incidence of acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients with chronic liver disease was around 20%.

One type of kidney failure is diagnosed as hepatorenal syndrome. This life-threatening condition causes sudden, acute kidney failure, causing them to lose their function. Blood flow to the kidneys is reduced due to constricted blood vessels in response to severe liver disease or liver failure. Hepatorenal syndrome must be treated immediately, with many cases requiring liver transplant.

Renal failure, also known as acute kidney injury or failure is also a consequence of severe liver disease or liver failure. This can be caused by liver disease’s effect on the kidneys over a prolonged period of time, leading to loss of function.

Conclusion

For patients who are at risk for liver disease or failure, it is important to know the relationship between the liver and kidneys to know what to look for prior to kidney disease or failure also occurring. Early intervention is critical to finding treatment options for liver and kidney failure that may be able to reverse or slow it down, thus saving your organs from harm.