Patient selection: ascites in a developing country where cirrhosis, malignancy and tuberculosis comprise > 90% of cases of ascites
Parameters:
(1) serum total protein in g/dL
(2) serum albumin in g/dL
(3) ascites fluid total protein in g/dL
(4) ascites fluid albumin in g/dL
(5) ascites fluid cholesterol in mg/dL
ratio of ascites fluid to serum total protein =
= (ascites fluid total protein) / (serum total protein)
ratio of ascites fluid to serum albumin =
= (ascites fluid albumini) / (serum albumin)
serum to ascites fluid albumin gradient =
= (serum albumin) – (ascites fluid albumin)
|
Parameter
|
Cirrhosis-Associated Ascites
|
|
ascites fluid total protein
|
< 2.5 g/dL
|
|
ascites fluid albumin
|
< 2.0 g/dL
|
|
ascites fluid cholesterol
|
< 55 mg/dL
|
|
ascites fluid to serum total protein ratio
|
< 0.5
|
|
ascites fluid to serum albumin ratio
|
< 0.65
|
|
serum to ascites fluid albumin gradient
|
> 1.1
|
