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Do Having Red Palms Indicate Liver Cirrhosis?
Question: Does having red palms indicate liver cirrhosis? All blood tests reveal that my liver functions are good, but still says that it looks abnormal thru ultra sound, I'm confused
Brief Answer:
Red palms are part of other disease too
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for posting your question to HCM,
Yes, palmar erythema (red palms) is sometimes a sign of liver cirrhosis, but also it is sign of other problems like in more than 60% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, in hyperthyroidism (elevated thyroid levels), sometimes in patients with diabetes mellitus. Also some drugs can cause palmar erythema like amiodarone, gemfibrozil, cholestyramine, topiramate, and albuterol. Smoking and chronic mercury poisoning are environmental causes of it also.
On the other side, the diagnoses of cirrhosis is made in general from the liver functions tests, ultrasound can confirm it, and if both ultrasound and blood tests do not agree, then a liver biopsy is performed.
Tests for liver function are a lot, but the most common to get done in general are: a)complete blood count with platelets b)prothrombin time (PT)/INR c)partial thromboplastin time (PTT) d) liver function tests: aspartate aminotransferase (AST); alanine aminotransferase (ALT); gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT); alkaline phosphatase (ALP); serum bilirubin; serum albumin.
I don't know which tests you have done, but if you have some information above to consult with your doctor and decide which is the next step.
Hope I answered your question.
Let me know if you have other questions.
Take care.
Dr. Papaqako.
Red palms are part of other disease too
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for posting your question to HCM,
Yes, palmar erythema (red palms) is sometimes a sign of liver cirrhosis, but also it is sign of other problems like in more than 60% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, in hyperthyroidism (elevated thyroid levels), sometimes in patients with diabetes mellitus. Also some drugs can cause palmar erythema like amiodarone, gemfibrozil, cholestyramine, topiramate, and albuterol. Smoking and chronic mercury poisoning are environmental causes of it also.
On the other side, the diagnoses of cirrhosis is made in general from the liver functions tests, ultrasound can confirm it, and if both ultrasound and blood tests do not agree, then a liver biopsy is performed.
Tests for liver function are a lot, but the most common to get done in general are: a)complete blood count with platelets b)prothrombin time (PT)/INR c)partial thromboplastin time (PTT) d) liver function tests: aspartate aminotransferase (AST); alanine aminotransferase (ALT); gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT); alkaline phosphatase (ALP); serum bilirubin; serum albumin.
I don't know which tests you have done, but if you have some information above to consult with your doctor and decide which is the next step.
Hope I answered your question.
Let me know if you have other questions.
Take care.
Dr. Papaqako.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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