Review Article
A Primer on Detecting Cirrhosis and Caring for These Patients without Causing Harm
Table 1
Clues to the presence of cirrhosis.
| Risk factors for liver disease, especially obesity, alcohol use, and high-risk behavior for hepatitis C | Sleep/wake reversal | History of fluid retention, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, or unexplained episodic confusion | Stigmata of cirrhosis, including palmar erythema, vascular spiders, and abdominal wall collaterals | Firm liver and/or enlarged spleen | Jaundice, ascites, or asterixis | Platelet count <160,000 × 10(9)/L | Abnormal liver tests | Prolonged international normalized ratio (INR) | Evidence of cirrhosis and/or portal hypertension on imaging | Unusual sensitivity to coumadin |
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