Does early-stage cirrhosis cause leg swelling?

Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
Updated on December 31, 2024
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Generally, in the early stages of cirrhosis, there is no swelling in the legs.

However, if a patient with cirrhosis reaches the advanced stage and develops hypoalbuminemia, swelling in the feet can easily occur. At the same time, there is also the possibility of complications such as ascites, portal hypertensive gastropathy, and esophagogastric varices, among others.

If swelling of the legs occurs in patients with cirrhosis, it indicates that the patient has entered the decompensated stage. At this point, it is necessary to go to the hospital as soon as possible to complete the relevant examinations to determine the cause of the cirrhosis, so that targeted treatment can be administered based on the cause as soon as possible.

Other Voices

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Written by Si Li Li
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Will early-stage cirrhosis cause lower back pain?

In the early stages of cirrhosis, there are generally no specific symptoms. Some patients may experience symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and aversion to oily foods. Typically, symptoms do not include lower back pain. However, if lower back pain occurs, it is necessary to consider and rule out diseases that frequently cause this symptom. Firstly, conditions such as lumbar muscle strain; secondly, issues like lumbar disc herniation or lumbar spine diseases; thirdly, kidney-related diseases, such as kidney stones, etc. Therefore, it is essential to first determine the cause of the lower back pain, or from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, whether the pain is related to kidney deficiency? Then, a differential diagnosis can be made, followed by treatment. This approach will ensure more effective therapeutic outcomes.

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Written by Yang Chun Guang
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Is liver cirrhosis with ascites contagious?

Liver cirrhosis in the decompensated stage with ascites present is not inherently contagious. Whether the condition is infectious depends not on the severity of liver function, the degree of liver cirrhosis, or the gravity of ascites, but rather on the underlying cause of the liver cirrhosis. For example, liver cirrhosis caused by alcohol consumption is not contagious. However, if the liver cirrhosis is due to viral hepatitis, such as commonly seen with hepatitis B or C, the condition can be infectious. Therefore, the presence of ascites or liver cirrhosis itself is not an indicator of infectiousness; the crucial factor is whether there is an infectious virus present.

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What are the symptoms of early cirrhosis?

Early-stage cirrhosis does not have specific symptoms, and its manifestations are not typical. Some patients may have no symptoms at all, while others may experience general weakness, aversion to greasy food, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, abdominal distension, and abdominal pain. If these symptoms occur, it is recommended to visit a hospital promptly for an examination to determine the specific illness. If diagnosed with cirrhosis, it is necessary to identify the cause. Common diseases that lead to cirrhosis include viral hepatitis, such as chronic hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C, as well as alcoholic liver disease and fatty liver. Once the cause is identified, treatment can be targeted based on the specific cause.

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Is alcoholic cirrhosis ascites serious?

Once ascites caused by alcoholic liver cirrhosis is discovered, it indicates that the liver has reached the decompensated stage of cirrhosis, which is quite severe. Decompensated cirrhosis itself has a relatively low five-year and ten-year survival rate. Moreover, once the liver enters the decompensated stage, it is also prone to corresponding complications, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, infections, etc. Therefore, when alcoholic liver cirrhosis presents with ascites, it is crucial to seek treatment at a formal hospital. The condition is quite serious and requires active treatment.

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In the early stages of cirrhosis, is there abdominal bloating and stomach pain?

Early-stage cirrhosis generally does not result in abdominal distension or stomach pain, and individuals in the early stages of liver cirrhosis might not exhibit any discomfort symptoms. However, if liver function reaches an advanced stage, complications like ascites associated with cirrhosis might occur, leading to abdominal distension. There might also be the occurrence of conditions like portal vein thrombosis, which can cause stomach pain, and possibly primary peritonitis, which can induce abdominal pain in patients. It is necessary to promptly identify the cause and adopt appropriate treatment measures. For example, if the stomach pain is caused by primary peritonitis, active anti-infection treatments should be applied.