Final answer:
Acetaminophen overdose is the primary cause of 1/3 to 1/2 of all reported cases of acute liver failure in the U.S., followed by hepatitis and alcoholic hepatitis. Other causes include toxic reactions to other medications and liver damage from metabolic disorders.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of liver disease that accounts for 1/3 to 1/2 of all reported causes of acute liver failure in the U.S. is acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol) overdose. This is a form of drug-induced liver injury which leads to acute liver failure, often as a result of unintentional overdose from the medication. Acetaminophen is a common over-the-counter medication used for pain relief and fever reduction, but when taken in excessive amounts, it can severely damage the liver.
Other significant causes of acute liver failure include hepatitis, particularly hepatitis A, B, and C, and liver damage from long-term excessive alcohol use, known as alcoholic hepatitis. Additionally, other drugs and toxins can cause acute liver failure, as well as autoimmune diseases and metabolic disorders like Wilson's disease (copper overload) and hereditary hemochromatosis (iron overload).