A Study of 150 Cases of Ascites: Etiology and Diagnostic Evaluation

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate socio-epidemiological data on the etiological profile of ascites in adults in a tertiary care hospital in Ahmedabad, Western India, and to compare the study with other developing countries. Knowledge of the causes also allows discussing the preventive measures. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based observational study was conducted in the Department of Medicine in a tertiary care center in Gujarat, located in the Western India. In all 150 patients who were diagnosed as ascites on the basis of history, physical examination, ultrasonography, CT scan or MRI and ascitic fluid aspiration and cytology etc. were performed according to requirement. Cases of more than 18 years of age were included in the study. Data was analyzed and presented in a comparative study manner. Results: Cirrhosis of liver was the leading cause of ascites in our study (58.9%), tuberculosis was the second most common cause of ascites (14.1%), malignancy and cardiac disorders were the third (15.3%) most common causes for ascites. Alcohol was the leading cause of cirrhosis in 64 patients (72.7%). Conclusion: Liver cirrhosis due to alcoholism and tuberculosis were the major causes of ascites in our study while liver cirrhosis due to chronic viral hepatitis infections (hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses) and cardiac failure were the main causes of ascites in other developing countries. The other major causes included heart failure, renal failure, malignancy etc. It is wise to consider and give priority to these diseases whenever one is evaluating a patient with ascites. The measures on taking care of preventable risk factors are desired.