RESUMEN
Ascites is a common important feature of chronic liver disease and to determine the extent, causes, clinical presentation and nature of cirrhotic ascites in Qatar a descriptive, prospective study was made of 48 males and 14 females with cirrhotic ascites and a mean age of 56.2 "12.6 years admitted to the Medical Department, Hamad General Hospital between January 2004 and January 2005. Twenty six were Qatari, the remainder being of various nationalities. The most common cause of cirrhotic ascites was chronic alcoholism, found in 29 [46.8%] patients. Uncomplicated liver cirrhosis was found in 40 [64.5%] patients, complicated liver cirrhosis in 22 [35.5%] patients. At admission, encephalopathy, GI bleeding, and fever were found to be significantly associated with complicated cirrhotic ascites. Results of the study suggest that cirrhotic ascites is common in the State of Qatar with the most common causes being chronic alcoholism followed by chronic viral hepatitis C and B. It is suggested that efforts are needed to prevent and treat these two conditions