Differential Diagnoses
- Acute Liver Failure
- Alcoholic Hepatitis
- Biliary Disease
- Budd-Chiari Syndrome
- Cardiomyopathy, Dilated
- Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive
- Cirrhosis
- Hepatitis, Viral
- Hepatocellular Adenoma
- Hepatorenal Syndrome
- Mediterranean Fever, Familial
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Portal Hypertension
- Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
- Protein-Losing Enteropathy
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[Best Evidence] Wong CL, Holroyd-Leduc J, Thorpe KE, Straus SE. Does this patient have bacterial peritonitis or portal hypertension? How do I perform a paracentesis and analyze the results?. JAMA. Mar 12 2008;299(10):1166-78. [Medline].
Han CM, Lee CL, Huang KG, et al. Diagnostic laparoscopy in ascites of unknown origin: Chang Gung Memorial Hospital 20-year experience. Chang Gung Med J. Jul-Aug 2008;31(4):378-83. [Medline]. [Full Text].
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Management of adult patients with ascites due to cirrhosis. National Guideline Clearinghouse. Available at http://guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=5259. Accessed March 20, 2009.
Gines P, Cardenas A. The management of ascites and hyponatremia in cirrhosis. Semin Liver Dis. Feb 2008;28(1):43-58. [Medline].
Ginès P, Wong F, Watson H, et al, for the HypoCAT Study Investigators. Effects of satavaptan, a selective vasopressin V(2) receptor antagonist, on ascites and serum sodium in cirrhosis with hyponatremia: a randomized trial. Hepatology. Jul 2008;48(1):204-13. [Medline].
Sola-Vera J, Minana J, Ricart E, et al. Randomized trial comparing albumin and saline in the prevention of paracentesis-induced circulatory dysfunction in cirrhotic patients with ascites. Hepatology. May 2003;37(5):1147-53. [Medline]. [Full Text].
Lata J, Marecek Z, Fejfar T, Zdenek P, et al. The efficacy of terlipressin in comparison with albumin in the prevention of circulatory changes after the paracentesis of tense ascites--a randomized multicentric study. Hepatogastroenterology. Oct-Nov 2007;54(79):1930-3. [Medline].
Singh V, Kumar R, Nain CK, Singh B, Sharma AK. Terlipressin versus albumin in paracentesis-induced circulatory dysfunction in cirrhosis: a randomized study. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. Jan 2006;21(1 pt 2):303-7. [Medline].
Mercadante S, Intravaia G, Ferrera P, Villari P, David F. Peritoneal catheter for continuous drainage of ascites in advanced cancer patients. Support Care Cancer. Aug 2008;16(8):975-8. [Medline].
Courtney A, Nemcek AA Jr, Rosenberg S, et al. Prospective evaluation of the PleurX catheter when used to treat recurrent ascites associated with malignancy. J Vasc Interv Radiol. Dec 2008;19(12):1723-31. [Medline].
Sorrentino P, Castaldo G, Tarantino L, Bracigliano A, Perrella A, Perrella O, et al. Preservation of Nutritional-status in Patients with Refractory Ascites due to Hepatic Cirrhosis who are Undergoing Repeated Paracentesis. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. Dec 6 2011;[Medline].
Seike M, Maetani I, Sakai Y. Treatment of malignant ascites in patients with advanced cancer: peritoneovenous shunt versus paracentesis. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. Dec 2007;22(12):2161-6. [Medline].
Wallerstedt S, Olsson R, Simren M, et al. Abdominal tenderness in ascites patients indicates spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Eur J Intern Med. Jan 2007;18(1):44-7. [Medline].
Albornoz L, Motta A, Alvarez D, et al. Nitric oxide synthase activity in the splanchnic vasculature of patients with cirrhosis: relationship with hemodynamic disturbances. J Hepatol. Oct 2001;35(4):452-6. [Medline].
Amadon MN, Arroyo V. Ascites and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. In: Schiff ER, Sorrell MF, Maddrey WC, eds. Schiff's Diseases of the Liver. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Raven; 1999:503-44.
Cardenas A, Bataller R, Arroyo V. Mechanisms of ascites formation. Clin Liver Dis. May 2000;4(2):447-65. [Medline].
[Best Evidence] D'Amico G, Luca A, Morabito A, Miraglia R, D'Amico M. Uncovered transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for refractory ascites: a meta-analysis. Gastroenterology. Oct 2005;129(4):1282-93. [Medline].
Garcia-Tsao G. Current management of the complications of cirrhosis and portal hypertension: variceal hemorrhage, ascites, and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Gastroenterology. Feb 2001;120(3):726-48. [Medline].
Jeffery J, Murphy MJ. Ascitic fluid analysis: the role of biochemistry and haematology. Hosp Med. May 2001;62(5):282-6. [Medline].
Oguntona SA, Alebiosu CO. Current concepts in the management of refractory cirrhotic ascites. Niger J Med. Jul-Sep 2006;15(3):197-202. [Medline].
Pauly RP, Sood MM, Chan CT. Management of refractory ascites using nocturnal home hemodialysis. Semin Dial. Jul-Aug 2008;21(4):367-70. [Medline].
Reynolds TB. Ascites. Clin Liver Dis. Feb 2000;4(1):151-68, vii. [Medline].
Runyon B. Approach to the patient with ascites. In: Yamada T, Alpers DH, Laine L, Owyang C, Powell DW, eds. Textbook of Gastroenterology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1999:966-91.
Wong F, Blendis L. Hepatorenal failure. Clin Liver Dis. Feb 2000;4(1):169-89. [Medline].

