title: Intraperitoneal catumaxomab therapy in a cirrhotic patient with malignant ascites due to urethelial carcinoma: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Refractory malignant ascites is a common complication in tumor patients. To date, chemotherapy and paracentesis represent the most widely used methods to relieve the symptoms. Lately, intraperitoneal therapy with catumaxomab, a trifunctional hybrid antibody, has been introduced for the treatment of malignant ascites, and its utility has been demonstrated in patients with distinct abdominal malignancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the first case of successful catumaxomab treatment of malignant ascites in a patient with advanced carcinoma of the urinary bladder and liver cirrhosis. Although at admission a large volume paracentesis was needed every other day, paracentesis was no longer necessary after catumaxomab therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Catumaxomab might represent a safe treatment option for malignant ascites in the course of metastatic urothelial carcinoma, also in the setting of liver cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine II, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krawczyk
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vidacek
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lammert
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018033:Antibodies, Bispecific / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001201:Ascites / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D018033:Antibodies, Bispecific; C522419:catumaxomab