Cirrhosis is sometimes misdiagnosed as Idiopathic Portal Hypertension

It has been reported that some patients have been misdiagnosed with Idiopathic Portal Hypertension, when in fact the correct diagnosis in their specific case was Cirrhosis.

The treatment options for cirrhosis depend on the liver damage as well as the cause. The treatment helps to slow the progress of the cirrhosis as well as treating the symptoms. If cirrhosis is diagnosed early, lifestyle changes such as reducing or stopping alcohol intake, maintaining a healthy weight can help in slowing the disease. If hepatitis infection is present, medications can be used to slow the infection. A liver transplant may be required in severe cases, Cirrhosis may be difficult to diagnose early because of the absence of symptoms. Liver function tests as well as imaging tests can aid in the diagnosis.

Always consult your doctor or health professional, and do not self diagnose.

Symptoms can include:

Jaundice, fatigue, ascites, easy bruising or bleeding, loss of appetite, nausea, weight loss, itchy skin, gynecomastia, spiderlike blood vessels on skin, redness in the palms of the hands, edema, absence or loss of periods, loss of sex drive in men, testicular atrophy, hepatic encephalopathy

Symptoms are a guideline only and may apply to either the diagnosis or the reported misdiagnosis, or both. Consult your specialist for further information.

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