Abstract
ABSTRACTIntroductionAscites is a common complication of chronic liver diseases and is related to the extent of portal hypertension. This study evaluated whether the serum ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) (the difference between the albumin level of serum and of ascitic fluid) is endowed with clinical implications.Materials and methodsThis is a prospective study involving 50 patients with cirrhosis of liver with ascites. The SAAG was measured in all patients and its relation with portal hypertensive changes was analyzed.ResultsBased on SAAG values, the patients were divided into three groups: Group 1 – SAAG value 1.1 to 1.49 gm/dL (n = 15); group 2 – SAAG value 1.5 to 1.99 gm/dL (n = 9); and group 3 – SAAG value 2.0 gm/dL (n = 26). In group 1, 14 patients had esophageal varices (93.3%) and 13 had gastropathy (86.6%). In group 2, all 9 patients had esophageal varices (100%), 7 (77.7%) had gastropathy, and 1 (11.1%) had gastric varices. In group 3, all 26 patients had esophageal varices (100%), 24 patients (92.3%) had gastropathy, and 1 patients (3.8%) had gastric varices.Conclusion Serum ascites albumin gradient value is weakly related to the extent of portal hypertension in patients with liver cirrhosis and its implication seems to be limited in clinics.How to cite this articleShahed FHM, Al-Mahtab M, Rahman S. The Evaluation of Serum Ascites Albumin Gradient and Portal Hypertensive changes in Cirrhotic Patients with Ascites. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2016;6(1):8-9.
Highlights
Ascites is a common complication of chronic liver diseases and is related to the extent of portal hypertension
Based on serum ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) values, the patients were divided into three groups: Group 1 – SAAG value 1.1 to 1.49 gm/dL (n = 15); group 2 – SAAG value 1.5 to 1.99 gm/dL (n = 9); and group 3 – SAAG value 2.0 gm/dL (n = 26)
Serum ascites albumin gradient value is weakly related to the extent of portal hypertension in patients with liver cirrhosis and its implication seems to be limited in clinics
Summary
Ascites is a common complication of chronic liver diseases and is related to the extent of portal hypertension. This study evaluated whether the serum ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) (the difference between the albumin level of serum and of ascitic fluid) is endowed with clinical implications. Ascites, defined as a pathological accumulation of fluid in peritoneal cavity, may accompany several diseases.[1] Chronic liver disease, especially cirrhosis, is related with ascites. The serum ascites albumin gradient (SAAG), which is based on the difference between the albumin level of serum and of ascitic fluid, may be used to assess the extent of ascites.[2] The SAAG is thought to reflect the colloid osmotic pressure gradient and the degree of portal hypertension. We assessed the relation between SAAG and portal hypertensive changes in this study
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