Liver Cirrhosis Diagnosis

Liver cirrhosis is a chronic progressive liver disease that develops over time from hepatitis B, hepatitis C, alcoholic liver disease, or fatty liver. Early symptoms are nonspecific and often overlooked. Without timely diagnosis and intervention, the disease may rapidly deteriorate, leading to ascites, jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy, or even liver cancer.

Diagnostic Basis of Liver Cirrhosis

1. Clinical Symptom Recognition

Patients with cirrhosis often present with fatigue, loss of appetite, jaundice, and abdominal distension. In advanced stages, ascites, lower limb edema, petechiae, and spider angiomas may appear, which provide important diagnostic clues for clinicians.

2. Liver Function Tests

Blood biochemical indicators such as transaminases (ALT, AST), bilirubin, albumin, and prothrombin time are key to assessing liver function. Elevated transaminases indicate hepatocellular damage, while reduced albumin and coagulation abnormalities suggest impaired liver function.

3. Imaging Examinations

Abdominal ultrasound, CT, and MRI can show liver shrinkage, nodular surface, splenomegaly, and ascites, which help determine the severity of cirrhosis and the presence of portal hypertension or varices.

4. Liver Stiffness Measurement

Non-invasive methods such as transient elastography (FibroScan) are widely used to measure liver stiffness. This technique effectively differentiates degrees of fibrosis and monitors disease progression.

5. Serological Markers

Markers such as hyaluronic acid, laminin, and type IV collagen reflect the degree of liver fibrosis. They are important references for early diagnosis and suitable for screening and follow-up.

6. Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Used to confirm whether portal hypertension has caused esophageal or gastric varices, it is an important tool for assessing bleeding risk and is often used for disease staging.

7. Liver Biopsy

Although invasive, liver biopsy remains the "gold standard" in difficult or atypical cases, confirming the degree of fibrosis and ruling out other liver diseases. It plays a key role in diagnosis and classification.

8. AFP and Liver Cancer Screening

Patients with cirrhosis have a significantly increased risk of developing liver cancer. Regular testing of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and ultrasound can detect potential malignancy at an early stage and prevent missed diagnoses.

9. Pre-assessment for Stem Cell Therapy

For patients planning to undergo stem cell therapy, comprehensive evaluation of liver function, inflammatory activity, and fibrosis degree is necessary to maximize treatment effectiveness and exclude contraindications.

Conclusion

Diagnosis is the first step in treating liver cirrhosis. Experts at the United Life International Medical Center emphasize that accurate diagnosis helps patients seize treatment opportunities. By using standardized diagnostic methods and scientific evaluation, combined with advanced therapies such as stem cell treatment, patients may gain longer survival and improved quality of life.