Comparative utility of biochemical markers for differentialdiagnosis of ascites

Vyankatesh T. Anchinmane; Shilpa V. Sankhe

doi:10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20162610

Authors

Vyankatesh T. Anchinmane Department of Pathology, B.K.L. Walawalkar Rural Medical College, Sawarde, Chiplun, Ratnagiri
Shilpa V. Sankhe Department of Pathology, B.K.L. Walawalkar Rural Medical College, Sawarde, Chiplun, Ratnagiri

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20162610

Keywords:

Ascites, Protein, Lactate dehydrogenase, Serum ascites albumin gradient

Abstract

Background: Ascites is pathological accumulation of free fluid in the peritoneal cavity. Appropriate management for ascites depends upon diagnosis of its etiology. Based on total protein concentration of ascitic fluid, earlier ascites was classified as transudate and exudate. The present study was designed to compare the utility of total protein, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and serum ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) to categorise ascitic fluids as either exudate or transudate.

Methods: This prospective study comprised of 110 adult patients with ascites whose diagnosis was established by clinical examination and appropriate investigations. Biochemical analysis of ascitic fluid and serum was done with protein, albumin and LDH. The usefulness of each biochemical parameters was statistically evaluated in terms of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV.

Results: In this endeavour, the SAAG and fluid LDH did showed a clear advantage over the fluid protein which is traditional existing biochemical parameter for differential diagnosis of ascitic fluid into transudate and exudate.

Conclusions: The SAAG had more discriminatory power than fluid protein parameter and hence should replace fluid protein test in diagnostic separation of ascites into transudate and exudate.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Malabu UH, Olubuyide IO, Shaibu ME, Olawuyi F. Ascites in Ibadan, Nigeria usefulness of albumin gradient in its etiologic diagnosis. Biomed Res. 2006;17(2):5-9.

Ingle SB, Hinge C. Utility of ascitic fluid cholesterol levels in malignant ascites. Int J Basic Applied Med Sci. 2012;2(3):79-82.

Joseph J, Badrinath P, Basran GS, Sahn SA. Is albumin gradient or fluid to serum albumin ratio better than the pleural fluid lactate dehydroginase in the diagnostic of separation of pleural effusion? BMC Pulmonary Med. 2002;2:1.

Sulya M, Solanki US. Utility of biochemical markers for differential diagnosis of ascitic fluid. Indian J Applied Res. 2015;5(11):272-4.

Mahmood S, Zama BU, Hazari MAH. Liver cirrhosis with ascites: study on identifying reliability parameters for clinical outcome. Int J Pharmaceutical Chem Bio Sci. 2015;5(1):71-6.

Kopcinovic LM, Culej J. Pleural, peritoneal and pericardial effusions a biochemical approach. Biochemia Medica. 2014;24(1):123-37.

Paramothayan NS, Barron J. New criteria for the differentiation between transudates and exudates. J Clin Pathol. 2002;55:69-71.