Ascitic Fluid Interpretation Flashcards
Causes of high SAAG?
- Cirrhosis
- Hepatic failure
- Alcoholic hepatitis
Causes of low glucose in ascitic fluid?
- TB
- Malignancy
Causes of clear/straw coloured ascitic fluid?
Liver cirrhosis
Raised WCC in ascitic fluid microscopy?
- >100 TB/Malignancy
- >100,000 Trauma, Haemorrhage
What does a high and low SAAG mean?
High = transudate fluid
Low = exudate fluid
How do you calculate SAAG?
Serum albumin - ascitic fluid albumin
Describe relevance of WCC in ascitic fluid microscopy?
- >250 and neutrophils - SBP
- >250 and lymphocytes - TB
Causes of raised protein in ascitic fluid?
- TB
- SBP
Causes of cloudy ascitic fluid?
- Pancreatitis
- Perforated bowel
- Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP)
Causes of low SAAG?
- Infection
- Pancreatitis
- Malignancy
- Nephrotic syndrome
Causes of milk coloured ascitic fluid?
- Malignancy
- Lymphoma
- Tuberculosis
When does ascites become clinically detectable?
At least 500mls of fluid
Causes of raised amylase in ascitic fluid?
Pancreatitis
Causes of bloody ascitic fluid?
- Malignancy
- Haemorrhagic pancreatitis
What is ascites?
Accumulation of ascitic fluid in the peritoneal cavity
What is SAAG?
- Serum ascitic albumin gradient
- Indirectly measures portal pressure
What is the most common cause of ascites?
Portal hypertension (usually due to cirrhosis)