title: Predictors of refractory ascites development in patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis hospitalized to control ascitic decompensation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Refractory ascites (RA) is closely related to a high morbidity and mortality. In this study, we investigated predictors of RA development in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis who were hospitalized to control ascitic decompensation, and determined predictors for survival in patients who experienced RA.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 199 consecutive patients with HBV-related cirrhosis who were hospitalized to control ascitic decompensation between January 1996 and December 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate analyses showed that only serum potassium at admission predicted RA development independently [p=0.013; hazard ratio (HR), 2.800; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.166-6.722]. During the follow-up period, 16 (8.0%) patients experienced RA within 4.2 (range, 1.0-39.2) months after admission for controlling ascitic decompensation, and they survived a median of 8.7 (range, 3.9-51.3) months. Child-Pugh class and RA type were identified as independent prognostic factors affecting the survival in patients with RA (p=0.045; HR, 8.079; 95% CI, 1.231-67.984 and p=0.013; HR, 14.510; 95% CI, 1.771-118.874, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum potassium was an independent predictor of RA development in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis who were hospitalized to control ascitic decompensation. After RA development, Child-Pugh class and RA type were independent predictors for survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ju Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Seung Up
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jun Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Do Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kwang-Hyub
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Chae Yoon
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chon
authors.forename: Sang Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001201:Ascites / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium