Ascites

There are many complications of liver disease, ascites being one of them. One way we can diagnose the etiology of ascites is with Serum-Ascites Albumin Gradient.

If greater that 11 g/L: think about cirrhosis, EtOH hepatitis, CHF, Budd-Chiari syndrome, or a high burden of liver metastases

If less than 11 g/L: think about pancreatitis, peritoneal carcinomatosis, peritoneal TB, serositis, or low albumin states like nephrotic syndrome.

here is a great article from the NEJM on managing cirrhosis and ascites http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/350/16/1646