title: Serum-ascites albumin difference in tuberculous peritonitis.
abstract: Recent studies have shown that the serum-ascites albumin difference provides better diagnostic discrimination than the ascites total protein concentration in the separation of "transudative" (portal hypertension) ascites and "exudative" (non-portal hypertension) ascites. Published studies to date have reported the serum-ascites albumin difference in only two patients with tuberculous ascites. We looked at the serum-ascites albumin difference in our series of patients with tuberculous peritonitis. All had a low difference (less than 1.1), similar to patients with malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Rapid City Regional Hospital, South Dakota.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Vogele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001201:Ascites / Q000209:etiology; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014395:Peritonitis, Tuberculous / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin