Patient's question:
I am a businessperson who often drinks for business purposes. Recently, I might have gone to the hospital for a check-up and was told that my liver has some problems. I would like to ask what are the clinical symptoms of liver disease?Doctor's answer:
1. Skin lesions 65% of liver disease patients exhibit various types of rashes, the most common being acne-like rashes, telangiectasia, followed by urticaria, maculopapular rashes, hemorrhagic purpura, and skin itching, etc.2. Joint and muscle pain In the prodromal phase of acute hepatitis, up to 40% of patients experience joint pain. Muscles around large joints are often aching and tender. In chronic hepatitis patients, 59.5% suffer from joint pain, affecting both large and small joints, which frequently recur. The pain is generally not severe.
3. Cardiovascular diseases Heart involvement in liver disease has been noted, manifesting as myocarditis, arrhythmias, etc.
4. Lung diseases Lung manifestations are mostly interstitial pneumonia, reactive pleurisy, etc., and are more common in children.
5. Urinary system diseases Viral hepatitis can cause glomerulonephritis, leading to proteinuria, hematuria, etc. Severe chronic hepatitis may also cause renal tubular acidosis.
6. Hematologic diseases Mild anemia, hematocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia are common, with occasional pancytopenia, aplastic anemia, and hemolytic anemia. Both hepatitis B and C can cause aplastic anemia, which often occurs within one year of hepatitis and has a poor prognosis.
7. Neurological manifestations In addition to hepatic encephalopathy, neurological dysfunction such as excessive excitement, irritability, and insomnia may also occur, though these symptoms are often overlooked. Other possible manifestations include insomnia, taste and hearing disturbances, aseptic meningitis, and encephalitis.
8. Endocrine and metabolic disorders Liver disease patients may develop hyperglycemia, with 5-6% of chronic liver disease patients developing diabetes. Other symptoms include gynecomastia in males, testicular atrophy, and menstrual irregularities in females.
9. Fever During acute viral liver disease, more than half of patients experience low-grade or moderate fever in the early stages. Sometimes accompanied by sore throat and mild cough, it resembles upper respiratory tract infection. Severe hepatitis may cause high fever. The temperature is usually below 38°C, slightly higher in the afternoon, and sometimes accompanied by chills.
10. Other manifestations Liver disease patients may occasionally develop Beh?et's syndrome, Sj?gren's syndrome, gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, ulcerative colitis, and parotid enlargement, drooling, etc.