What is the definitive treatment for fulminant hepatitis?

Fulminant hepatitis is a severe and rapid deterioration of liver function, often leading to hepatic failure. The only definitive treatment that addresses the underlying issue of failing liver function in these cases is a liver transplant. This is necessary because the liver's capacity to regenerate is inadequate in fulminant hepatitis, and the organ may be irreversibly damaged.

Liver transplant not only removes the failing liver but also replaces it with a healthy organ, thereby restoring normal physiological function. While other treatments, such as antiviral therapy, may be indicated in cases of viral hepatitis, they do not provide a definitive solution in the acute setting of fulminant hepatitis where immediate action to replace the damaged liver is required. Supportive care and vitamin K administration may play roles in managing symptoms or specific complications associated with liver failure, but they do not resolve the underlying cause of liver failure.