Constrictive pericarditis causes hepatomegaly.
The so-called constrictive pericarditis refers to the presence of fibrotic calcifications and fibrotic hyperplasia in the pericardium, which severely affects the diastolic function of the heart. Once the diastolic function of the heart is compromised, the return flow of venous blood becomes severely obstructed, leading to congestion of the liver. Therefore, once congestion of the liver and spleen occurs, enlargement of the liver can occur, and in severe cases, it can lead to systemic edema, including ascites and similar conditions. Thus, the basic principle behind the enlargement of the liver in constrictive pericarditis is as such. Especially in such cases, patients will experience severe dietary problems, including poor appetite and indigestion, which further lead to low protein levels and malnutrition, exacerbating the enlargement of the liver and edema.