The present invention provides a therapeutic agent for acute liver failure containing a hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), particularly an agent for treating fulminant hepatitis or late onset hepatic failure or suppression of progression of acute liver failure without hepatic coma to fulminant hepatitis or late onset hepatic failure. The present invention also provides a method for evaluating the efficacy of HGF including measuring the amount of α-fetoprotein (liver regeneration biomarker) and/or soluble Fas (anti-apoptotic biomarker) in a sample obtained from a liver injury patient administered with HGF.
