title: [Evaluation of the usefulness of the physico-chemical study of ascitic fluid in patients with chronic hepatopathies, neoplasms and spontaneous peritonitis].
abstract: In order to separate malignancy from chronic liver disease, the ascitic fluid (AF) of 45 in-patients was studied prospectively. Protein, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDH and glucose concentrations were determined in AF. Ascites/Serum (A/S) protein and LDH ratios were also established. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) incidence was studied in the cirrhotic group performing the pH, PMN count and culture of the AF. The 45 patients were classified in three groups: 29 with chronic liver disease, 10 with malignancy and 6 with miscellaneous pathology. Af protein concentration, its A/S ratio and AF cholesterol concentration were statistically significant (p less than 0.001) to differentiate malignancy from chronic liver disease. However, the AF glucose, triglycerides and LDH concentrations and the A/S LSH ratio were not useful in the differential diagnosis. The SBP incidence was 13%, its mortality rate 75% and the cultures were positive only in 25%.
authors.affiliation: División de Gastroenterología, Hospital Municipal Juan A. Fernández,Capital Federal, Argentina.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olmos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Raffo
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Valdez
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mendelluk
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Orcinoli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Magnanini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies
vernacular_title: Valoración de la utilidad del estudio fisicoquímico del líquido, ascítico en pacientes con hepatopatías crónicas, neoplasias y peritonitis espontánea.