Ammonia tolerance test used to differentiate between ascites of cirrhotic and malignant genesis.
Eighteen patients with ascites, 9 with cirrhosis of the liver and 9 with malignant disease, were subjected to the ammonia tolerance test by instillation of ammonia transrectally . Arterial blood samples were taken before and 15 and 30 min after the instillation to determine the plasma ammonia concentrations. The results show a significant difference in the plasma ammonia concentration between the two groups of patients after instillation of ammonia. Since the method is non-invasive, it is recommended as a screening test in the differentiation between ascites of cirrhotic and malignant genesis.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood; D001201:Ascites / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012007:Rectum
D000641:Ammonia