ABSTRACT
To determine the effect of the prostaglandin E2 in the pathogenesis of refractory ascites in liver cirrhosis. The study is consisted of three groups. Group I: consisted of twenty patients having liver cirrhosis with refractory ascites. Group II: comprised ten patients having liver cirrhosis with ascites. Group III: included ten normal subjects as controls. All the groups were subjected to thorough history taking and physical examination, routine blood examination, liver function tests, renal function tests including serum urea. creatinine, creatinine clearance, serum sodium and potassium, 24hs urinary sodium and potassium, 24hs urinary volume, estimation of PGE2 in the urine using ELISA technique. liver function tests showed a significant affection in group I, II particularly serum albumin, AIG ratio and prothrombin activity. Renal functions showed deterioration in glomerular filtration rate as shown by creatinine clearance values in group I, II, III. Other parameters, save 24hs urinary potassium levels were found to be statistically significant affected on comparing the three groups. Urinary PGE2 levels showed a statistically significant difference on comparing the three groups. renal prostaglandins play an important role in the preservation of renal function in all situations with known elevation of vasconstriction mediators, as occurs in decompensated liver disease