Liver Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension

What are the symptoms of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension?

Patients with early liver cirrhosis often have no detectable symptoms or signs of disease. Such patients may feel completely well and healthy and are often diagnosed based on abnormal blood tests or liver scans. This condition is known as compensated cirrhosis, which is associated with a favorable median survival of more than 10 years. Patients with early, compensated cirrhosis are often diagnosed on regular ultrasound screening during follow-up for chronic liver disease (e.g. chronic viral hepatitis or fatty liver disease).

Patients with more advanced liver cirrhosis may develop the following signs and symptoms:

• Ascites (swelling of the abdomen due to accumulation of fluid)
• Pedal edema (swelling of the ankles and feet)
• Spider naevi (dilated blood vessels on the upper chest and arms)
• Splenomegaly (enlarged spleen) e. Hepatic encephalopathy (drowsiness or confusion due to inability of the liver to break down toxins in the blood) f. Varices (swollen veins in the esophagus and stomach that develop due to obstruction of blood flow in the liver)