Cirrhosis is a debilitating and potentially fatal medical problem in which your liver becomes infiltrated with scars. According to the Mayo Clinic, its cause includes excessive alcohol consumption, hepatitis B or C (liver infections), excessive iron accumulation (hematochromatosis) and accumulation of copper in your liver (Wilson's disease). Frequent infections, malnutrition and an elevated risk of liver cancer results when you do not treat cirrhosis, says the Mayo Clinic. Cirrhosis presents with specific physical symptoms.
Ascites
MedlinePlus indicates that ascites is actually an accumulation of fluid between your stomach and your stomach cavity. This is medically known as your peritoneal cavity. This fluid results from the fact that your liver's blood vessels are under an elevated amount of pressure. This pressure induces the fluids in your blood to seep out into your stomach cavity. Also, low albumin (a protein) in your blood causes fluid to seep out as well. Due to the law of diffusion, fluid moves to the area of more concentration.
MedlinePlus says that treatment for ascites includes taking diuretic medications (water pills) to drain the fluid via your urine, avoiding alcohol and limiting salt consumption. Sometimes a procedure such as paracentesis and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is necessary to drain the fluid or change the fluid's course, respectively.
Bacterial peritonitis (an ascitic fluid infection), kidney failure, malnutrition and confusion can result if ascites is left untreated.
Gynecomastia
Cirrhosis can lead to gynecomastia, a condition in which men develop breasts. The Mayo Clinic says that gynecomastia refers to breast tissue swelling that occurs because of the imbalance of hormones that result from liver damage. Other physical manifestions of gynecomastia include breast swelling. Typically, treating the cause may get rid of gynecomastia. However, the Mayo Clinic says that gynecomastia in cirrhosis sufferers may require further treatment. Your physician can prescribe such medications as tamoxifen or raloxifene to reduce breast tissue swelling. Liposuction (removal of fatty tissue) and mastectomy (removal of breast tissue) are other possible options.
Other Symptoms
MedlinePlus says that other symptoms of cirrhosis include stomach indigestion or pain, nausea, vomiting or confusion. Cirrhosis can also cause you to vomit blood (hemoptysis), have nosebleeds or bleeding gums. Low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) occur when your liver is damaged because your liver makes thrombopoeitin, a necessary substance used to create platelets, which are important for clotting your blood. Cirrhosis also causes weakness, weight loss and yellowing of the skin (jaundice).
