Cirrhosis

Injury Disease Nutrition Poison Symptoms Surgery Test Special Topic

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Digestive system Liver cirrhosis, CT scan Clubbing Digestive system organs

Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention

Cirrhosis

• Ascites
• Swelling of the legs
• Vomiting blood
• Confusion
• Jaundice
• Small, red spider-like blood vessels on the skin
• Weakness
• Weight loss
• Nausea and vomiting
• Impotence and loss of interest in sex
• Bleeding hemorrhoids

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Urine output, decreased
• Swelling, overall
• Stools, pale or clay colored
• Nosebleed or bleeding gums
• Gynecomastia (breast development in males)
• Abdominal pain
• Abdominal indigestion
• Fevers

Symptoms may develop gradually, or there may be no symptoms.

A physical examination may reveal an enlarged liver or spleen, distended abdomen, yellow eyes or skin (jaundice), red spider-like blood vessels on the skin, excess breast tissue, small testicles in men, reddened palms, contracted fingers, or dilated abdominal wall veins.

Tests can reveal liver problems including:

• Anemia (detected on a CBC)
• Coagulation abnormalities
• Elevated liver enzymes
• Elevated bilirubin
• Serum albumin low
• Enlarged liver (seen with an abdominal x-ray)

A liver biopsy confirms cirrhosis.

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• Cholesterol test
• Complement
• Alpha-fetoprotein
• Renin
• Serum magnesium - test

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