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Ascites

Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Natural History

  • Chapter
Portal Hypertension

Part of the book series: Clinical Gastroenterology ((CG))

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Abstract

Ascites, the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, is the most common complication of cirrhosis and portal hypertension (1). In a prospective study of patients with compensated cirrhosis of all etiologies, the cumulative probability of developing ascites ranges from 35% to 50% in 5 yr (1,2). Although cirrhosis is the cause of ascites in more than 75% of patients, other less common causes of ascites are peritoneal malignancy (12%), cardiac failure (5%), and peritoneal tuberculosis (2%) (3), and these should be considered in the differential diagnosis of ascites. With the increasing use of in vitro fertilization, ascites secondary to severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is being increasingly recognized (4).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Connecticut VA Healthcare System, Section of Digestive Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT

    Sakib Karim Kbalid MD & Guadalupe Garcia-Tsao MD

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  1. Sakib Karim Kbalid MD
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  2. Guadalupe Garcia-Tsao MD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology, Virginia Commonwealth Medical Center, Richmond, VA

    Arun J. Sanyal MBBS, MD

  2. GI Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

    Vijay H. Shah MD

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Kbalid, S.K., Garcia-Tsao, G. (2005). Ascites. In: Sanyal, A.J., Shah, V.H. (eds) Portal Hypertension. Clinical Gastroenterology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-885-4_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-885-4_19

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