What are the gastrointestinal symptoms of cirrhosis?

Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
Updated on February 08, 2025
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In the early stages of cirrhosis, many patients do not exhibit any symptoms, but some may experience fatigue, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, and indigestion. Some patients might also suffer from portal hypertensive gastropathy due to cirrhosis, leading to symptoms such as pain and bloating in the upper abdomen, acid reflux, and belching. If the disease progresses to the decompensated stage of cirrhosis, portal hypertension can cause varices in the esophagus and stomach, which may lead to severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding if hard food is consumed. Symptoms can include vomiting dark red blood or fresh blood, dizziness, fatigue, and cold sweats. In such cases, it is advised to seek immediate medical attention for emergency treatment.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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Does fatty liver occur in the early stages of cirrhosis?

Cirrhosis in its early stage does not necessarily involve fatty liver, as there are multiple causes for cirrhosis. Besides fatty liver causing steatohepatitis, which can lead to cirrhosis, other causes include viral hepatitis, drug-induced hepatitis, and autoimmune hepatitis, which can also lead to cirrhosis. Cirrhosis resulting from the above conditions will not involve fatty liver. However, if cirrhosis is caused by steatohepatitis, it is possible that fatty liver occurred in its early stage. Once fatty liver develops, proactive interventions are necessary, such as weight loss and medication, which might reverse fatty liver.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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What will happen if someone with cirrhosis occasionally stays up late?

Patients with cirrhosis occasionally staying up late may also exacerbate the extent of liver function impairment, thereby accelerating the progression of cirrhosis and causing some complications such as spontaneous peritonitis, liver failure, hepatic encephalopathy, etc. Therefore, patients with cirrhosis should also not stay up late occasionally. Patients with cirrhosis should pay attention to rest, combine work with rest, avoid staying up late, and avoid eating overly spicy and stimulating food. They should also consume more fresh vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins, regularly check liver function, and take treatments targeting the cause of cirrhosis and liver protection, etc.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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Can early-stage cirrhosis cancer be cured?

Whether early-stage liver cirrhosis cancer can be cured depends on a detailed analysis of the specific situation. Firstly, if a patient with early-stage liver cirrhosis develops cancer, it is crucial to promptly combine the patient’s physical condition with aggressive surgical treatment. The specific surgical approach and procedure are determined by clinical doctors. Moreover, for patients with early-stage cancer, targeted etiological treatment should be administered. For instance, if the early-stage liver cancer is caused by alcoholic liver cirrhosis, active intervention is necessary. If it is due to viral hepatitis, such as chronic hepatitis B leading to liver cirrhosis and progressing to early-stage cancer, active antiviral treatment is required.

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Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
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Can early cancerous changes in cirrhosis be cured?

If the patient has early-stage cirrhosis and develops cancerous changes, there are currently many treatment methods for liver cancer due to advanced science, so there is no need for immediate worry. The treatment for liver cancer can generally involve methods like microwave therapy, anhydrous alcohol injections, or surgery, including liver transplantation. One can choose the specific treatment method based on their individual medical condition. However, if suffering from hepatitis B or C-induced cirrhosis, it is recommended to take antiviral medications while treating liver cancer. This can help control the condition and delay its progression. It is also important to closely monitor the condition with frequent check-ups. If there is a possibility of recurrence of the liver condition, it is advisable to consider surgery or a liver transplant at an early stage.

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Written by Yuan Lin Yan
Infectious Disease
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Is hepatitis B with liver cirrhosis severe?

Hepatitis B-related cirrhosis is a form of liver cirrhosis caused by the hepatitis B virus, and it is more severe than chronic hepatitis B. However, cirrhosis can be categorized into compensated cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis. Decompensated cirrhosis refers to the advanced stages of cirrhosis, characterized by significant hardening of the liver, and complications such as ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and gastrointestinal bleeding may occur. This type of cirrhosis is severe and has a high mortality rate, and even timely antiviral therapy against hepatitis B cannot effectively delay the progression of the disease. Compensated cirrhosis refers to the early stages of cirrhosis, where complications like ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and gastrointestinal bleeding are not present, making this type of cirrhosis comparatively less severe. With timely antiviral therapy against hepatitis B, the progression of cirrhosis can be delayed.