N-acetyl Cysteine Use in the Treatment of Shock Liver

Acute liver failure is a rare, life-threatening illness accounting for about 7% of all liver-related deaths. Patients with acute liver failure are managed with supportive care initially, and if supportive care fails, liver transplantation is the definitive option for eligible candidates in liver failure. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) has a well-established role in acetaminophen-induced liver failure and has been reported to reduce mortality in these patients. It has also been reported to provide benefit in non-acetaminophen-induced liver failure secondary to infection, drugs, and toxins. Here we report an interesting case of NAC use in an elderly patient with shock liver secondary to severe sepsis in whom liver transplantation was not an option.