title: Ascitic fluid alpha 1-antitrypsin.
abstract: Ascitic fluid alpha 1-antitrypsin (AF-AAT) was compared with ascitic fluid total protein (AF-TP) and the serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) in the differential diagnosis of ascites. The study included 82 consecutive patients of which 42 had cirrhosis, 8 hepatoma (with cirrhosis), and 27 malignant ascites (peritoneal 18, liver 9). The concentration of AF-AAT (milligrams per deciliter) was significantly elevated (P less than 0.001) in hepatoma (174 +/- 123), malignant liver disease (232 +/- 119) and peritoneal neoplasms (376 +/- 106) in comparison with cirrhotics (66 +/- 33). In separating ascites caused by cirrhosis or malignancy, AF-AAT (discriminating limit of 120 mg/dl) had a 96% sensitivity, 95% specificity, and 96% diagnostic efficacy, which was superior to the 87% observed for AF-TP and 86% for the SAAG. Similar results were obtained for the A/S AAT ratio but this test was not available in all patients. AF-AAT was particularly useful in patients with malignancy causing portal hypertension as assessed by SAAG (hepatoma, malignant liver disease). We conclude that AF-AAT may be a valuable parameter in the differential diagnosis of ascites.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Italiano, Internal Medicine (Liver Unit), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Villamil
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Sorroche
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Oyhamburu
mesh_terms: D001201:Ascites / Q000209:etiology; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000032:analysis*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin