Does portal vein widen in the early stages of cirrhosis?

Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
Updated on May 16, 2025
00:00
00:00

Patients with early-stage cirrhosis may also experience an enlargement of the portal vein. At this time, patients will need to complete related auxiliary examinations, such as electronic gastroscopy and abdominal color ultrasound, to rule out other complications caused by cirrhosis, such as esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding, or ascites associated with cirrhosis. It is crucial for early-stage cirrhosis patients to identify the cause as soon as possible and undergo etiological treatment, which sometimes can be very effective. For alcohol-related cirrhosis, abstaining from alcohol is necessary. If the cause is viral, such as chronic hepatitis B, antiviral treatments like entecavir are required. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
1min 8sec home-news-image

Can severe cirrhosis be cured?

Severe cirrhosis is understood to refer to the decompensated stage of cirrhosis, which is the later stage of the condition, primarily characterized by the hardening of the liver. Additionally, it presents a series of bodily complications such as ascites, as well as esophageal and gastric varices caused by portal hypertension. Sometimes, because of these varices, accidental rupture can occur during eating, leading to severe bleeding, which is a major upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage — a very dangerous complication. If this bleeding is not controlled, it can become life-threatening. Moreover, the skin may display spider nevi, and palmar erythema can appear on the hands; these are common manifestations and complications during the decompensated phase of cirrhosis. Thus, cirrhosis is not curable. Treatment focuses on symptomatic relief to minimize discomfort caused by the symptoms, but the disease itself cannot be cured.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
41sec home-news-image

What is good to eat after vomiting in the early stages of cirrhosis?

In the early stages of cirrhosis, after vomiting, one should eat light and easily digestible food. It's necessary to avoid spicy and stimulating food or rough, hard-to-digest food. Meanwhile, patients with cirrhosis should quit smoking and drinking alcohol, and also avoid drinking strong tea, coffee, etc. Once cirrhosis is discovered in a patient, targeted treatment should be administered, and comprehensive tests like color ultrasound and gastroscopy are needed to ascertain whether there are complications caused by cirrhosis, such as ascites or ruptured esophagogastric varices causing bleeding, among others.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ye Xi Yong
Infectious Diseases
38sec home-news-image

Can cirrhosis caused by hepatitis B virus be cured?

Hepatitis B virus-induced cirrhosis was previously considered incurable, though its progression could be slowed. However, recent observations and studies have shown that a small fraction of patients with early-stage hepatitis B virus-induced cirrhosis can be cured. However, the proportion of these patients is extremely low. To draw an analogy, cirrhosis is like our houses. If the cement, steel bars, and brick structure are damaged, then the house is difficult to repair. Cirrhosis is akin to the structural damage of the house, making it hard to recover.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jian Kang
Infectious Disease
56sec home-news-image

Can you have intercourse after hepatic cirrhosis caused by hepatitis B?

Liver cirrhosis caused by hepatitis B, if not treated with standard antiviral therapy, is very likely to test positive for the hepatitis B virus. HBV-DNA is a good indicator of the hepatitis B virus; if HBV-DNA tests positive, then it is contagious. The main transmission routes of hepatitis B include mother-to-child transmission, blood and body fluid transmission, and sexual transmission between spouses, though this route carries a relatively lower risk. Why is this the case? Firstly, the spouse may already have hepatitis B surface antibodies, which are protective antibodies providing immunity against hepatitis B. Secondly, when adults are infected with hepatitis B, most can acutely clear the virus, preventing the chronic manifestation of the disease.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
50sec home-news-image

Can abnormal liver function and nosebleeds indicate liver cirrhosis?

Abnormal liver function accompanied by nosebleeds does not necessarily indicate cirrhosis. Nosebleeds in patients with abnormal liver function can be due to acute hepatitis leading to liver failure and decreased coagulation function. Of course, in patients with cirrhosis, a significant decline in coagulation function may also result in nosebleeds. Therefore, patients experiencing nosebleeds due to abnormal liver function should actively seek medical attention. It is important to complete liver function tests and coagulation assays, as well as comprehensive abdominal imaging examinations, such as CT scans, ultrasonography, and MRI, to assess the condition of the patient. Based on these assessments, appropriate medical treatment should be administered.