Thelansis

  Ascites are the abnormal accumulation of fluid within the peritoneal cavity, primarily associated with cirrhosis and often marking the transition from compensated to decompensated cirrhosis. Approximately 50% of patients with decompensated cirrhosis develop ascites within 10 years, leading to increased mortality due to complications like spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and hepatorenal syndrome. In the United States, cirrhosis is the leading cause of ascites, accounting for about 80% of cases. Other causes include cancer (10%), heart failure (3%), tuberculosis (2%), dialysis (1%), pancreatic disease (1%), and other factors (2%). Hemorrhagic ascites, occurring in up to 19% of cirrhosis patients, may result from spontaneous causes, with 72% attributed to bloody lymph and 13% to hepatocellular carcinoma. The initial abnormality in cirrhosis-related ascites is portal hypertension, where increased portal pressure and elevated circulating nitric oxide levels lead to vasodilation. As...