Cirrhosis

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Clubbing

Digestive system organs

Liver cirrhosis, CT scan

Liver cirrhosis; Cryptogenic chronic liver disease

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

When symptoms do occur, they can include:

• Abdominal indigestion or pain
• Confusion or problems thinking
• Impotence , loss of interest in sex, and breast development ( gynecomastia ) in men
• Nausea and vomiting
• Nosebleeds or bleeding gums
• Pale or clay-colored stools
• Small, red spider-like blood vessels on the skin
• Swelling or fluid buildup of the legs (edema) and in the abdomen (ascites)
• Vomiting blood or blood in stools
• Weakness
• Weight loss
• Yellow color in the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes (jaundice)

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During a physical examination the health care provider may find:

• An enlarged liver or spleen
• Excess breast tissue
• Expanded (distended) abdomen, as a result of too much fluid
• Reddened palms
• Red spider-like blood vessels on the skin
• Smaller (contracted) fingers
• Small testicles
• Widened (dilated) veins in the abdomen wall
• Yellow eyes or skin (jaundice)

Tests can reveal liver problems including:

• Anemia (detected on a CBC )
• Clotting problems
• Liver function problems (detected on liver function tests)
• Low serum albumin

The following tests may be used to evaluate the liver:

• Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen
• Endoscopy to check for dilated veins (varices) in the esophagus or stomach
• Ultrasound of the abdomen

A liver biopsy confirms cirrhosis.

Some patients will be screened for liver cancer every 6 months. Your doctor will use a blood test to check for levels of alpha fetoprotein and will do an imaging test (ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan).

Review Date: 12/13/2010
Reviewed By: George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).