| Ascites is determined as presences of pathological changes in peritoneal cavity. It’s mainly accumulation of free fluid. Aims and Objectives: In prospective study ascitic fluid cholesterol levels in various types of ascites, to compare diagnostic values of ascitic fluid cholesterol levels v/s SAAG, to study SAAG in various types of ascites. To find out specificity & sensitivity of ascitic fluid cholesterol levels in differential diagnosis of ascites. The study was conducted on 100 patients of ascites of different etiologies admitted in Bhaarath Medical College and Hospital, chennai of 15-65 years of either sex. The following study groups were made viz.:-
Group A 29 Cases of ascites caused by cirrhosis of liver
Group B 30 cases of ascites caused by Tuberculosis
Group C 25 cases of ascites caused by Malignancies
Group D, E, F25 cases of ascites caused by others (e.g. CHF, CRF, Nephrotic Syndrome, Anemia-hypoproteinemia, Bacterial Peritonitis, etc. The paracentesis was performed after proper positioning of patient .150 ml. of ascitic fluid was drawn and examined for, total protein, albumin, adenosine deaminase (ADA) (when indicated), sugar, cholesterol, total cell count, cell type, malignant cells, micrbiological tests (AFB stain , Gram staining, aerobic and anaerobic culture, sputum culture,) Liver function test, Serum cholesterol, Sputum for AFB and culture (When indicated), ECG, Chest X-ray, X-ray abdomen, Ultrasonography of abdomen: Histopathological examination. Exclusion Criteria- Haemodynamically unstable patients: Arterial hypotension and bleeding abnormality. Conclusion: Ascitic fluid cholesterol is an effortless, despicable and consistent biochemical parameter to differentiate (cirrotic) transudative and other ascites from malignant ascites. It is not useful in differentiating transudative cirrhotic from other tubercular ascitesddd |
