What items are rechecked in the early stages of cirrhosis?

Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
Updated on March 24, 2025
00:00
00:00

In the early stages of cirrhosis, it is essential to first re-examine liver function, including transaminases, albumin, total protein, and bilirubin. This is very important. Additionally, it is necessary to recheck the complete blood count to monitor the number of white blood cells and platelets. Another important assessment is a liver ultrasound to observe whether the liver surface is smooth, the width of the portal vein, the presence of portal hypertension, and whether the spleen is enlarged. Furthermore, a re-examination of coagulation function to check for any changes is crucial.

In the early stages of liver disease, these are the primary examinations that should suffice. Based on the results, the severity of the condition should be determined. When necessary, in cases of viral-induced cirrhosis such as hepatitis B or C, aggressive antiviral symptomatic treatment should be administered.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Hu Chen
Imaging Center
57sec home-news-image

Can cirrhosis be detected by ultrasound B?

If there are signs of hardening in the liver, which we call cirrhosis, an ultrasound, specifically a hepatobiliary ultrasound, can detect it. Especially in the middle and late stages, cirrhosis has some characteristic features on an ultrasound. First, one can observe the size of the liver. By the middle and late stages, the liver usually shrinks—a slight enlargement may occur early on, but it generally progressively diminishes. Additionally, the texture of the liver becomes harder, and through the ultrasound, the texture appears uneven with a bumpy feeling, or in other words, there can be seen a diffuse and uneven echo. However, for early-stage cirrhosis, a standard ultrasound may not be as sensitive. Nowadays, there are digital liver ultrasounds specifically designed to measure the degree of liver hardness, which provide objective data to help diagnose more sensitively and objectively. This method can definitely detect the condition.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
40sec home-news-image

Can second stage cirrhosis be cured?

No form of cirrhosis can be cured, but it is possible to alleviate the condition, control it, and slow its progression through medication. Therefore, once diagnosed with cirrhosis, it is essential to understand the type of cirrhosis, which means making an accurate diagnosis. If it is hepatitis B or C related cirrhosis, active antiviral medication should be taken orally to quickly control and slow the progression of the disease; for alcoholic liver, it is advised to abstain from alcohol strictly; if the condition is severe and irreversible, liver transplant surgery could be considered.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
56sec home-news-image

Does early-stage liver cirrhosis cause petechiae on the skin?

In the early stages of cirrhosis, it generally does not cause petechiae on the skin. However, if the disease progresses to a later stage, the decline in coagulation function and reduction in platelets may lead to skin manifestations such as petechiae and ecchymosis. Therefore, if a patient with cirrhosis experiences petechiae in the early stages, it is important to seek further consultation at a reputable hospital's department of gastroenterology and hepatology. When necessary, a consultation at the dermatology department may also be required to complete coagulation function tests and a routine blood examination to assess the patient's condition. If the patient's condition, including the symptoms mentioned above, is due to cirrhosis, further comprehensive evaluations are needed, including gastroscopy and imaging studies of the liver, to rule out the occurrence of liver complications.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
45sec home-news-image

Do you need a liver transplant in the early stages of cirrhosis?

In the early stages of cirrhosis, liver transplant is not necessary. Early-stage cirrhosis requires timely and comprehensive auxiliary examinations to determine the cause of the cirrhosis. This includes determining whether it is due to viral hepatitis, cholestatic hepatitis, or drug-induced hepatitis, among others. Once a patient exhibits early signs of cirrhosis, it is crucial to treat the specific cause and symptoms actively, and undertake proactive liver protection treatments. It is also essential to prevent complications associated with cirrhosis, such as esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding, primary liver cancer, hepatorenal syndrome, liver disease, and ascites.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yang Chun Guang
Gastroenterology
47sec home-news-image

Is it okay not to remove the spleen for cirrhosis with splenomegaly?

Once cirrhosis patients are found to have splenic hyperfunction, in order to reduce the splenic hyperfunction and its phagocytic destruction of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, the spleen must be dealt with. Traditionally, the treatment plan could involve surgically removing the spleen, also known as splenectomy. However, current treatment plans generally involve interventional methods. After multiple interventional embolizations, the spleen undergoes aseptic necrosis and is absorbed, thus improving the condition of splenic hyperfunction. Therefore, now in cases of cirrhosis with splenic hyperfunction, it is possible to treat without removing the spleen, using interventional methods instead.