12. Swelling of the legs
The liver is also important to produce proteins that keep the liquid inside the blood vessels. One of the most important is called albumin, and it is the most abundant protein in the blood. When the liver is damaged, albumin levels drop, and instead of keeping the liquid inside the arteries and veins, it drains to the outside and accumulates in the soft tissue. This is called edema.
Edema usually starts in the foot and the ankle, then it rises to the lower part of the legs. When the liver damage is severe, the liquid begins to accumulate in the abdomen in something known as ascites.
