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Abstract
Portal hypertension is responsible for the more severe and often lethal complications of cirrhosis such as bleeding esophageal varices and ascites. Almost 90% of patients with cirrhosis devolop varices and approximately 30% of varices bleed.
Ascites is the presence of fluid within the peritoneal cavity. Biochemical, cytological and microbiological examinations are very helpful in differential diagnosis of ascites.
The serum–ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) is probably a better discriminant than older measures for the cause of ascites.
In several studies recently carried out, it was emphasized that serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) based on the albumin levels of serum and ascites fluid should be used to determine the etiology of the ascites cases instead of discrimination between trasudate and exudates.
Previous studies showed that an excellent correlation exists between portal hypertension and SAAG.
In patient with ascites the presence of esophageal varices is associated only with patients with high SAAG.
The presence of esophageal varices in patients with ascites and high SAAG is directly related to the degree of SAAG. Furthermore the presence and size of esophageal varices is found to be directly related to the degree of SAAG.