liver failure

Question

I've having some bother finding "liver failure" in my dicionaries - they state "liver disease" but not liver failure.

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Which of my guesses sounds best - or perhaps something else entirely?

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• fallo hepático
• falla hepática
• insuficiencia hepático (I believe "insuficiencia renal" is used for "kidney failure")

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Many thanks as always.

Answer 1

The correct phrase is "insuficiencia hepática". Insuficiencia is also used for failure of the heart, kidneys, and respiratory system.

Gracias lorenzo9 :) Do you know if "fallo hepático" / "falla hepática" are ever used? (I'm sure I've seen them somewhere). - amy_moreno, Apr 13, 2011

I think that s a more colloquial way of saying it, but it is less common. - lorenzo9, Apr 13, 2011

Gracias lorenzo. :) - amy_moreno, Apr 13, 2011

Answer 2

Amy, I also found a reference for "falla hepática", but I think Lorenzo has the best answer. I found several medical papers using the term (falla hepática fulminante and falla hepática subfulminante).

Here's one of the papers about the parvovirus.

link text

These terms are also used on certain drug labels.

Thank you so much for taking the time to look this up, dogwood. :) - amy_moreno, Apr 13, 2011

Answer 3

Well, I suppose it is a matter of communication. In my way of thinking, one may have abnormal liver function (in the sense of having elevated liver enzymes and other metabolic components normally cleared through the liver) and still have adequate hepatic function. If uncorrected, the condition can worsen into what I would call "insufficient liver function", in that the inadequate liver function directly impacts the overall health. But when the liver becomes so badly damaged that a transplant is required, that is what I would call "liver failure".

I see it as a progression of events in hepatic disease. I know, too much information, but that's the way I see it.

Like I said at the start, go with lorenzo's answer.

Answer 4

"abnomal liver function"

Actually I would call that insuficiencia hepática, as an abnormal fuction would be that, right?

In English, insufficient function is a euphemism for failure, and this seems to have been adopted by the Spanish speaking doctors. - lorenzo9, Apr 13, 2011

IInsufficiency and failure are two different things Liver failure is a grave situation ,insufficiency not so much ,but can progress to failure if left untreated. - faliron, Apr 13, 2011

Answer 5

Amy, I'm working on a list to prepare a flashcard set for medical terms and laboratory tests. I don't know if many people will be interested in using them, but I see questions about these terms on the forum occasionally.

From what I see, "fución hepática anormal" is a term used to describe a syndrome where liver function tests indicate an abnormal condition. I only see it in a clinical application.

It's like, for example, most people say "high blood pressure", when the clinical name is "hypertension" (or some variant of that). The term you choose will probably depend on the audience you wish to address.

I'm studying these terms now because of the circumstances I'm in at the clinic. I hope that helps. I can point you to some reference books if you need more information or other terms.

Hope that helps!

Here's a link to a reference at Loyola about abnormal liver function tests. It uses the term as a symptom of an abnormal blood clotting test.

link text

Gracias dogwood :) I'll keep a look out for the flashcards :) - amy_moreno, Apr 17, 2011

Answer 6

So would "abnomal liver function" be:

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*** [la] función hepática anormal**

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Many thanks.