Serum - ascites albumin and cholesterol gradients in differential diagnosis of ascites.
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-151752
ABSTRACT
Background:
Differential diagnosis of ascites is a common clinical problem. Less expensive biochemical techniques are required to differentiate ascites with unknown etiology.Aim:
To evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of ascitic fluid cholesterol, serum ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) and serum ascites cholesterol gradients (SACG) in differentiating cirrhotic, tuberculous and malignant ascites.Methods:
50 patients (25 with hepatic cirrhosis, 15 with tuberculosis and10 with malignancy) were evaluated for ascitic fluid total protein, albumin, cholesterol, SAAG and SACG.Results:
The mean ascitic fluid cholesterol was significantly higher in malignant ascites when compared with cirrhosis and tuberculous ascites (p= 0.0001 each). The difference between tuberculous and cirrhotic ascites was also significant (p= 0.001). The mean value of SAAG was significantly higher in cirrhosis when compared with tuberculous and malignant ascites (p= 0.0001; p= 0.001 respectively) but the difference between tuberculous and malignant ascites was not significant The mean SACG was significantly lower in malignant compared to tuberculous and cirrhotic ascites (p= 0.0001; p= 0.001 respectively). The difference between tuberculous and cirrhotic ascites was not significant.Conclusion:
SAAG is a better marker to differentiate cirrhotic ascites from tuberculous and malignant ascites. Ascitic fluid cholesterol and SACG are better markers to differentiate malignant ascites from cirrhotic and tuberculous ascites.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
Language:
English
Year:
2011
Type:
Article
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS