Many chronic hepatitis patients, especially patients with liver cirrhosis, have a dark brown complexion which is called hepatic face. This may be due to endocrine disturbance and skin pigmentation, or because of sustained or recurrent jaundice that causes the deposition of biliverdin in the skin. Exaggerated erythema is seen in the thenar and hypothenar eminences of the palm, which is known as liver palms. A radial cluster of dilated capillaries on the skin's surface, called spider telangiectasia, has a diameter of several millimeters to a few centimeters. A spider telangiectasia is compressible and blanchable with adequate pressure, and is commonly present in the face, neck, anterior chest and back of hand, but is occasionally seen around the whole body. Male patients may develop erectile dysfunction, and symmetrical or asymmetrical mammary hyperplasia, swelling as well as pain, which may even be misdiagnosed as breast cancer, and subjected to adenomammectomy; while women patients may develop menstrual disorders, amenorrhea, and loss of libido etc. These may be due to liver dysfunction, reduced estrogen inactivation, and increased estrogen in the body.
|