How Long Can a Patient Live With Stage 4 Liver Failure?

By Staff WriterLast Updated April 03, 2020

The life expectancy of a person with untreated stage 4, or end-stage, liver failure is one to three years, says Doctor Decides. Liver transplant is the only treatment for this stage of the disease and has the potential to extend a person’s life by five years or more, states UCSF.

Causes of liver failure include hepatitis viruses, alcohol abuse, autoimmune diseases and liver cancer, says Mayo Clinic. Symptoms include fatigue, jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin), abdominal bloating, dark urine, swelling of ankles and legs, and difficulty concentrating. A physician can diagnose liver failure with blood tests, imaging and a liver biopsy, according to the American Liver Foundation.