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PubMed · 7939068

[Ascites].

B A Volk
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Abstract

Ascites is most frequently a symptom of advanced chronic liver disease. The pathogenesis of ascites with portal hypertension is complex, and the interaction between liver and kidney is incompletely known. Due to the differing pathogenetic mechanisms and the consecutively different therapeutic approaches, the differential diagnosis of ascites has to be clearly evaluated by measurement of certain laboratory parameters in the ascitic fluid. The prior to therapy basic principles in the therapy of the portal ascites include bed rest, dietary restriction of sodium and water intake, therapeutic paracentesis and diuretics in increasing doses. With this basic therapeutic approach 85 to 90% of the patients can be treated successfully. In patients with complicated forms of ascites or hepatorenal syndrome, other therapeutic strategies have to be used.

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AscitesChronic DiseaseCombined Modality TherapyDiureticsDrainageHumansHypertension, PortalKidneyLiverLiver DiseasesEnglish AbstractJournal Article

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B A Volk. 1994-09-20. [Ascites].. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7939068/

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PubMed1997

A randomized trial of paracentesis plus intraperitoneal tumor necrosis factor-alpha versus paracentesis alone in patients with symptomatic ascites from recurrent ovarian carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Previous phase I and II studies of intraperitoneal recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rhTNF-alpha) suggested a high degree of efficacy in reducing or eliminating ascitic fluid. To more accurately determine the efficacy of this agent, the role of paracentesis versus paracentesis plus intraperitoneal rhTNF-alpha was studied in a randomized trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with symptomatic ascites with a volume of > 1000 ml from recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma or primary peritoneal carcinoma, which was refractory to standard therapy, were randomized either to receive 0.06 mg/m2 rhTNF-alpha (Knoll, Canada) (the dose determined optimal from phase I and II studies) intraperitoneally after drainage of fluid or to receive drainage alone. A maximum of three treatments were given at weekly intervals. Eighteen patients were randomized to receive rhTNF-alpha. RESULTS: None of 18 evaluable rhTNF-alpha patients had either a complete response (CR) (no clinical evidence of ascites and < 400 ml of fluid on ultrasound) or a partial response (PR) (asymptomatic ascites and < or = 1000 ml of fluid ultrasound). There were no CRs or PRs in the 17 evaluable patients who received drainage alone. The intraperitoneal infusion of rhTNF-alpha was generally well tolerated. Moderate to severe toxicity consisted of pain/discomfort in 42.1%, fever/chills in 36.9%, nausea/vomiting in 10.5%, edema in 10.5%, and hypotension in 5.3% of patients receiving rhTNF-alpha. CONCLUSION: rhTNF-alpha, as given in this study, was not effective in preventing recurrence of ascites in this patient population.

Ascites↗
PubMed1996

[Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in the treatment of refractory ascites in 21 patients].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (TIPS) in the treatment of patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites. DESIGN: Descriptive follow-up study. SETTING: University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium. METHODS: In a period of three years, 21 consecutive patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites were treated with TIPS. Refractory ascites was defined as ascites resistant to maximum diuretic therapy and repeated paracentesis. The mean follow-up was 9 months (range 3-26). RESULTS: Creation of the stent shunt was technically successful in 20 patients and resulted in a decrease of the pressure gradient between the portal vein and the inferior vena cava by approximately 47%. The procedure was immediately lethal in two patients. Complications occurred later on in four patients: thrombosis of the stent in 3 patients and disabling encephalopathy in one. Five other patients died from liver failure, four of them possibly related to the increase of the portosystemic shunting. The stent shunt had no ill effects on kidney function. Thirteen patients were still alive at the end of follow-up. Five patients (24%) had a total and sustained remission of the ascites. Seven patients (33%) still had ascites but needed no paracentesis. One patient did not respond to the treatment. The best results were observed in 14 alcoholics: 9 (64%) responded favourably (43% in non-alcoholics), in 4 of these the ascites had disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: TIPS placement needs substantial experience to avoid technical complications. In case of refractory ascites, only patients for whom later liver transplantation is considered should be submitted to the procedure, because TIPS placement can lead to deterioration of liver function.

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