Acetaminophen Toxicity Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Susan E Farrell, MD; Chief Editor: Asim Tarabar, MD   more...
 
Updated: Feb 6, 2012
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

The diagnosis of acetaminophen (APAP) ingestion and potential toxicity is based on obtaining a history of APAP ingestion and the measurement of a potentially toxic serum APAP concentration. Acetaminophen ingestion should be considered as a potential cause of illness in patients who present with hepatic dysfunction of unknown etiology.

The differential diagnosis for the clinical presentation of a patient with suspected APAP toxicity includes such conditions as vomiting of unclear etiology, hepatic failure and acute liver failure of unknown etiology, and hepatorenal syndrome.

Differential Diagnoses

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Susan E Farrell, MD  Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Education Consultant, Office for Graduate Medical Education, Partners HealthCare Systems; Attending Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital

Susan E Farrell, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Medical Toxicology, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Asim Tarabar, MD  Assistant Professor, Director, Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Michael J Burns, MD Instructor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Harvard University Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Michael J Burns, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Medical Toxicology, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Miguel C Fernandez, MD, FAAEM, FACEP, FACMT, FACCT Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery/Emergency Medicine and Toxicology, University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio; Medical and Managing Director, South Texas Poison Center

Miguel C Fernandez, MD, FAAEM, FACEP, FACMT, FACCT is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Clinical Toxicologists, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Medical Toxicology, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John T VanDeVoort, PharmD Regional Director of Pharmacy, Sacred Heart and St Joseph's Hospitals

John T VanDeVoort, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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