title: ACCURACY OF SERUM - ASCITES ALBUMIN GRADIENT IN THE AETIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF ASCITES.
abstract: 50 adults with ascites admitted to our hospital were studied. Simultaneous samples of ascitic fluid and blood were collected and subjected to analysis including ascitic fluid total protein and serum ascites albumin gradient The cut off value of serum-ascites albumin gradient for differentiating between high and low gradient was taken as 1.1 gm % and of ascitic fluid protein for differentiating exudate and transudate as 2.5 gm%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of high gradient and transudative ascites in diagnosing portal hypertension were 943%, 60%, 84.6%, 81.8% and 62.9%, 133%, 91.7% and 50% respectively. High gradient ascites is a sensitive test in the diagnosis of portal hypertension as a cause of ascites. The exudate-transudate approach has severe limitations in the differential diagnosis of ascites.
authors.affiliation: Classified Specialist (Medicine & Gastroenterology), Command Hospital (Eastern Command), Alipore Road, Calcutta - 700 027.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Seth
authors.affiliation: Classified Specialist (Medicine & Oncology), Command Hospital (Eastern Command), Alipore Road, Calcutta - 700 027.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rangarao
authors.affiliation: Graded Specialist (Medicine), Command Hospital (Eastern Command), Alipore Road, Calcutta - 700 027.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pakhetra
authors.affiliation: Classified Specialist (Surgery & GI Surgery), Command Hospital (Eastern Command), Alipore Road, Calcutta - 700 027.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Baskaran
authors.affiliation: DDMS, 3 Corps, C/o 99 APO, Command Hospital (Eastern Command), Alipore Road, Calcutta - 700 027.
authors.forename: Pvs
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rana
authors.affiliation: Scientist E (DRDO), Command Hospital (Eastern Command), Alipore Road, Calcutta - 700 027.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rajamani
keywords: Albumin Gradient; Ascites; High Gradient Ascites; Serum-Ascites