Patients with early liver cirrhosis often have no detectable symptoms or signs of disease. Such patients may feel completely well and healthy and are often diagnosed based on abnormal blood tests or liver scans. This condition is known as compensated cirrhosis, which is associated with a favorable median survival of more than 10 years. Patients with early, compensated cirrhosis are often diagnosed on regular ultrasound screening during follow-up for chronic liver disease (e.g. chronic viral hepatitis or fatty liver disease).
Patients with more advanced liver cirrhosis may develop the following signs and symptoms: