Lower limb edema and ascites in patients with cirrhosis are both caused by portal hypertension due to cirrhosis, and both are complications of cirrhosis.
Cirrhosis is a variety of causes of hepatocellular degeneration, necrosis, followed by intrahepatic connective tissue hyperplasia, the normal hepatic lobules are divided into pseudo lobules by fibrous tissue, which will cause hepatic sinusoidal occlusion and peri-sinusoidal fibrosis, so that the portal venous reflux is blocked, the pressure in the vein rises, and water in the blood vessels enters into the abdominal cavity to form ascites, and the venous circulation of the lower limbs is also to be refluxed to inferior vena cava by portal venous return, which will lead to the oedema of the lower limbs.
Ascites appears earlier and is more obvious than lower limb edema, and mobile turbid sounds can exist after ascites exceeds 1000ml. Lower limb edema is firstly dominated by ankle edema and gradually spreads upward, but head, face and upper limbs often have no edema.
If the diagnosis of cirrhosis is confirmed, it is recommended to carry out standardized treatment as soon as possible to reduce the adverse effects of the disease.