The condition and the treatment
Liver failure happens when the liver is unable to repair itself and stops working properly. Some of the main causes are an infection called hepatitis, disease (such as cirrhosis) and paracetamol poisoning. Symptoms of a failing liver include very itchy and yellow skin, loss of weight, a swollen tummy and passing black stools.
If the liver is damaged so much that it might fail completely, a liver transplant may be considered. The liver is removed and replaced with a healthy liver from a human donor. Because the liver comes from another person, the body's immune system recognises it as different and tries to destroy (reject) it. This means that after a liver transplant, you will have to take medication for the rest of your life to stop your body rejecting the new liver.
Everolimus (Certican) is a drug that stops the body's immune system rejecting the new liver.
NHS Choices (www.nhs.uk) may be a good place to find out more.