Liver disease can manifest in many different ways. Characteristic manifestations include jaundice (a yellowish discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes), cholestasis (reduction or stoppage of bile flow), liver enlargement, portal hypertension (abnormally high blood pressure in the veins that bring blood from the intestine to the liver), ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity), hepatic encephalopathy (deterioration of brain function due to buildup of toxic substances normally removed by the brain), and liver failure.

Sometimes the manifestations of liver disease are not obvious. For example, symptoms may include fatigue, a feeling of unwellness, loss of appetite, and mild weight loss. However, these symptoms are also typical of many other diseases. Thus, liver disease can easily be overlooked, particularly in its early stages.

Some Major Features of Liver Disease Feature Description Jaundice A yellowish discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes Hepatomegaly Liver enlargement Ascites Fluid in the abdominal cavity Hepatic encephalopathy Confusion caused by deterioration of brain function due to buildup of toxic substances in the blood Gastrointestinal bleeding Bleeding from large, tortuous veins (varices) in the esophagus and stomach Portal hypertension Abnormally high blood pressure in the veins that bring blood from the intestine to the liver (branches of the portal vein) Skin symptoms Spiderlike blood vessels on the face and chest Red palms Bright red complexion Itching Blood abnormalities Decreased number of red blood cells (anemia) Decreased number of white blood cells (leukopenia) Decreased number of platelets (thrombocytopenia) A tendency to bleed (coagulopathy) Hormonal abnormalities High levels of insulin but a poor response to it, leading to high blood sugar levels Cessation of menstrual periods and decreased fertility in women Erectile dysfunction and feminization in men Heart and blood vessel abnormalities Increased heart rate and amount of blood pumped Low blood pressure (hypotension) General symptoms Fatigue Weakness Weight loss Poor appetite Nausea Fever Abdominal pain

Last full review/revision August 2006 by Sidney Cohen, MD