A 68-year-old woman with a history of chronic hepatitis C presents with jaundice, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy. Liver biopsy shows extensive hepatocyte necrosis with inflammatory infiltrate, ballooning degeneration, and scattered apoptotic bodies. Serum ALT is 1200 U/L, AST is 1400 U/L, and INR is 3.2. She is afebrile and hemodynamically stable. What is the most appropriate immediate next step in management?