Ascites is an uncommon complication of heart disease.
Features:
(1) The patient has heart disease with congestive hepatopathy.
(2) The patient develops ascites.
(3) Exclusion of other causes of ascites.
(4) Successful management of heart disease may resolve ascites.
Laboratory findings:
(1) serum-to-ascites fluid albumin gradient >= 1.1 g/dL
(2) elevated LDH in ascites fluid
Differential diagnosis:
(1) cardiac cirrhosis
(2) alcoholic cirrhosis with cardiomyopathy
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Specialty: Gastroenterology
