Most people with cirrhosis of the liver experience no symptoms in the early stages of the disease, because small amounts of scarring do not significantly affect the functioning of the liver. However, if the cause of the cirrhosis of the liver is not addressed, the disease can advance and create enough damage to the liver tissue to create symptoms.
Symptoms may include poor appetite, fatigue, weight loss, and weakness. As the disease develops, complications can occur with further symptoms, such as easy bruising, and a buildup of extra fluid in the legs, called edema, or abdomen, called ascites. Blood pressure can rise in the abdomen, resulting in portal hypertension, which causes the veins of the esophagus to swell. These bulging veins are called esophageal varices, and they can burst, leading to life-threatening hemorrhage.
The skin and whites of the eyes may turn yellow, a condition called jaundice. In addition, cirrhosis of the liver may leave the liver unable to filter toxins, which can affect the brain. This is called encephalopathy, and it can result in symptoms, such as confusion, personality changes, or poor cognitive functioning.
Complications of cirrhosis of the liver can also lead to frequent infections and liver failure and kidney failure, which can be fatal....more about Cirrhosis of the liver »
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Cirrhosis of the liver includes the 38 symptoms listed below:
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The list of other diseases or medical conditions that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses for Cirrhosis of the liver includes:
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Many people with cirrhosis have no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. However, as scar tissue replaces healthy cells, liver function starts to fail and a person may experience the following symptoms:
As the disease progresses, complications may develop. In some people, these may be the first signs of the disease. (Source: excerpt from Cirrhosis of the Liver: NIDDK)
These general reference articles may be of interest in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:
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The symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Cirrhosis of the liver. This signs and symptoms information for Cirrhosis of the liver has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of Cirrhosis of the liver signs or Cirrhosis of the liver symptoms. Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Cirrhosis of the liver may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they are indeed Cirrhosis of the liver symptoms.
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