Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Ascites differential diagnosis
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Diseases that cause ascites should differentiate from each others, such as cirrhosis, Alcoholic hepatitis, Budd-Chiari syndrome, Constrictive pericarditis, Heart failure, Myxedema, Cancer, Nephrotic syndrome, Pancreatitis, Serositis, and Tuberculosis. The ascites may be transudate (serum-ascites albumin gradient [SAAG] ≥ 1.1 g/dL) or exudate (serum-ascites albumin gradient [SAAG] < 1.1 g/dL).
Differentiating Other Diseases Caused Ascites
Differentiating Other Diseases Caused Ascites
- Diseases that cause ascites should differentiate from each others, such as cirrhosis, Alcoholic hepatitis, Budd-Chiari syndrome, Constrictive pericarditis, Heart failure, Myxedema, Cancer, Nephrotic syndrome, Pancreatitis, Serositis, and Tuberculosis.
- The ascites may be transudate (serum-ascites albumin gradient [SAAG] ≥ 1.1 g/dL) or exudate (serum-ascites albumin gradient [SAAG] < 1.1 g/dL).
| Type | Diseases | History and Symptoms | Physical Examination | Laboratory Findings | Other Findings | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GI symptoms | Extra-GI symptoms | Liver function test | Biochemical test | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jaundice | Abdominal pain | Hematemesis | Nausea | Weight loss | Dyspnea | Cough | Chest pain | Fever | Spider angioma | Abdominal tenderness | Jugular venous distention | Pitting edema | Muffled heart sounds | ALT | AST | Bili | Amylase /Lipase | Cr | ESR | Na-K | |||
| Transudate
(SAAG≥ 1.1g/dL) |
Cirrhosis | ++ | + | + | + | + | – | – | – | – | + | + | – | – | – | ↑↑ | ↑↑ | ↑↑ | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal | |
| Alcoholic hepatitis | – | – | – | + | + | – | – | – | + | – | – | – | – | – | ↑ | ↑↑↑ | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal | ||
| Budd-Chiari syndrome | – | + | – | + | + | – | – | – | + | – | – | – | – | – | ↑ | ↑ | Normal | Normal | Normal | ↑ | Normal | ||
| Constrictive pericarditis | – | – | – | – | – | + | – | + | + | – | – | ++ | – | + | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal | ↑ | Normal | ||
| Heart failure | – | – | – | – | + | + | + | + | – | – | – | + | + | – | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal | ↑ |
| |
| Myxedema | – | – | – | – | – | + | – | – | – | – | – | – | ++ | – | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal | ↓ | ||
| Portal hypertension | +/- | + | + | + | + | – | – | – | – | + | – | – | – | – | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | Normal | ↑ | Normal | Normal | ||
| Exudate
(SAAG< 1.1g/dL) |
Cancer | + | + | – | + | ++ | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal | ↑↑ | Normal | – |
| Nephrotic syndrome | – | – | – | + | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ++ | – | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal | ↑↑ | ↑ | ↑↑ | ||
| Pancreatitis | +/- | +++ | – | ++ | – | – | – | + | + | – | ++ | – | – | – | Normal | Normal | Normal | ↑↑ | Normal | ↑ | Normal | ||
| Serositis | – | + | – | + | + | – | – | +/- | + | – | + | – | – | – | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal | ↑ | Normal | – | |
| Tuberculosis | – | + | – | + | + | ++ | ++ | ++ | +/- | – | + | – | – | – | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal | ↑↑ | Normal | ||
References
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Eiman Ghaffarpasand, M.D. [2]