Cirrhosis: Sensitivity and Specificity

Introduction: Irreversible chronic liver disease (insufficiency). Commonly caused by viral hepatitis (see HBV and HCV) or alcohol (see Alcoholism). See also Hepatic Encephalopathy.

For diagnostic signs, this provides a great review: http://www.turner-white.com/pdf/hp_jul03_stigmata.pdf

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Tags: Hepatic Tag this Diagnosis.

The sensitivity and specificity of findings for Cirrhosis are listed below. See the left navigation bar to change the display.

Poorly Diagnostic Findings

Finding	Sensitivity	Specificity	Comments, Study
Jaundice	78%	69%	by clinical observation, for serum bilirubin >=3.0mg/dl. Another study found sensitivity of only 68% for serum bilirubin >=2.5mg/dl. Study: Acad Emerg Med. 2000 Feb;7(2):146-56. PMID: 10691073 Mil Med. 1997 Aug;162(8):560-3. PMID: 9271910
Gynecomastia	Sensitivity = 44%		obviously for male patients only. Specificity not assessed. Study: Arch Intern Med. 1990 Mar;150(3):563-5. PMID: 2310274
Spider Angiomata	Sensitivity = 33%		50% prevalence in alcoholic cirrhosis vs 27% in non-alcoholic cirrhosis. Obviously they are not specific (since many occur with age or other hyper-estrogenic states in women), but this study did not address that question. Study: Scand J Gastroenterol. 1999 May;34(5):520-3. PMID: 10423070

Findings With Unspecified Accuracy

Ascites

No accuracy specified.

see Ascites for diagnostic tests of ascites.

Study: no study specified.

Asterixis

No accuracy specified.

Study: no study specified.