Patient's question:
I recently noticed that my abdomen was slowly protruding, which I thought was edema, and I also had lower limb edema. In addition, I experienced symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, and increased bowel movements. I felt sluggish and, after a thorough examination, found out that I had ascites. What kind of help is needed: What are the causes of ascites?Doctor's answer:
Chronic congestive heart failure and chronic constrictive pericarditis can cause long-term hypoxia of blood clots in the liver, leading to liver cell necrosis and fibrosis, which is referred to as cavernous cirrhosis, also known as cardiogenic cirrhosis. When there is extrahepatic biliary obstruction or intrahepatic biliary congestion, high levels of bilirubin have a harmful effect on liver cells, and over time, cirrhosis may develop. The type caused by intrahepatic biliary congestion is called primary biliary cirrhosis, while the type caused by extrahepatic biliary obstruction is called secondary biliary cirrhosis.