Will the platelet count be low in the early stages of cirrhosis?

Written by Wu Hai Wu

Gastroenterology

Updated on January 08, 2025

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The early stage of cirrhosis does not cause a decrease in platelets. Patients in the early stages of cirrhosis often have no obvious symptoms and may only exhibit fatigue, weight loss, jaundice, etc. However, once a patient with cirrhosis develops splenic hyperfunction, it can easily lead to a decrease in platelets, where the platelet count may drop to 100,000 per microliter. In such cases, it might be necessary to perform procedures like splenic embolization or splenectomy for antimicrobial treatment, and it is also important to prevent other complications of cirrhosis, such as esophageal and gastric varices, etc.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu

Gastroenterology

43sec

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Does early-stage cirrhosis cause leg swelling?

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.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu

Gastroenterology

38sec

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Will the platelet count be low in the early stages of cirrhosis?

The early stage of cirrhosis does not cause a decrease in platelets. Patients in the early stages of cirrhosis often have no obvious symptoms and may only exhibit fatigue, weight loss, jaundice, etc. However, once a patient with cirrhosis develops splenic hyperfunction, it can easily lead to a decrease in platelets, where the platelet count may drop to 100,000 per microliter. In such cases, it might be necessary to perform procedures like splenic embolization or splenectomy for antimicrobial treatment, and it is also important to prevent other complications of cirrhosis, such as esophageal and gastric varices, etc.

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Written by Yang Chun Guang

Gastroenterology

47sec

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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.

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Written by Huang Ya Juan

Gastroenterology

2min 16sec

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Early symptoms of cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis is generally divided into compensated and decompensated stages: The compensated stage is actually an early stage of liver cirrhosis. During this stage, most patients do not show symptoms, or they may experience some mild symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, etc. Decompensated stage: Early stages often present with fatigue and weakness, and later stages can include weight loss, loss of appetite, aversion to oily foods, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, fever, etc.; The liver is the only site of albumin synthesis, and during cirrhosis, reduced serum albumin can cause edema and ascites; the liver synthesizes most clotting factors, and cirrhosis can lead to coagulation disorders, clinically manifesting as gum bleeding, skin bruising, and nosebleeds; During cirrhosis, there can also be metabolic disorders of bilirubin and bile acids, leading to jaundice; Cirrhosis can also cause hormonal metabolic abnormalities, especially in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, who may exhibit many characteristics of male dysfunction, including impotence, erectile dysfunction, testicular atrophy, loss of body hair and muscle mass, feminization, etc. Female patients may experience cessation or reduction of menstruation, excessive menstruation, infertility, etc.; Both male and female patients can develop osteoporosis, leading to spontaneous fractures.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu

Gastroenterology

56sec

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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.