Skin manifestations of systemic disorders give a clue to the organ involved and help identify the possible disease-causing injury. Skin changes of liver cirrhosis are not specific, as they may be seen in disorders not involving the liver. Thus, a constellation of skin changes along with systemic features may help us to identify the disease-causing liver cirrhosis. Pruritus is one of the most common and distressful symptoms of liver cirrhosis, severely affecting the quality of life, which further necessitates understanding cutaneous manifestations of cirrhosis. Other nonspecific cutaneous manifestations include spider telangiectasia, palmar erythema, paper money skin, xanthomas, pigmentation changes, nutritional deficiencies, hair changes, and nail changes. This review discusses the nonspecific skin manifestations associated with liver cirrhosis followed by specific cutaneous findings seen in common diseases causing liver cirrhosis, such as viral infections, biliary tract disorders, chronic alcoholism, and metabolic disorders. Early recognition of cutaneous features can help prevent or delay the development of complications and end-stage disease, decreasing morbidity and mortality.
Keywords: HBV, Hepatitis B Virus; HCV, Hepatitis C Virus; LPA, Lysophosphatidic acid; PAN, polyarteritis nodosa; PBC, Primary biliary cirrhosis; PCT, Porphyria Cutanea Tarda; PSC, Primary Sclerosing cholangitis; UROD, uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; bFGF, basic fibroblast growth factor; cirrhosis; cutaneous manifestations; skin changes.
© 2021 Indian National Association for Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.