Ascites
What Causes Ascites?
While liver disease – specifically cirrhosis – is the most common cause of ascites, it can also have other causes, such as cancers, congestive heart failure or kidney failure. Here, however, we’ll be concentrating on ascites as a result of liver disease.
With liver disease, buildup of scar tissue can prevent blood from flowing freely through the liver, resulting in blood being backed up in the portal vein. Ascites may happen as a result of swelling of this portal vein causing portal hypertension. Swelling of the portal vein can then block the lymph channels causing the lymph to spill into the abdomen.
Ascites may also happen as a result of low blood albumin levels. Blood albumin performs many functions, including maintaining the 'osmotic pressure' that causes fluid to remain within the blood stream instead of leaking out into the tissues. Liver disease is a major cause of low albumin since a diseased liver does not product sufficient albumin. Thus, low albumin levels can cause plasma to diffuse from the veins and arteries into the tissues, thus leaking into the abdomen.
Ascites is usually a sign of severe liver disease and must be clearly distinguished from other reasons for abdominal distention.
References
Bruce, Cara and Montanarelli, Lisa. The First Year: Hepatitis C An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed. New York: Marlowe & Company, 2007.
Cohen, O.M.D., L.Ac., Misha Ruth and Gish, M.D., Robert. The Hepatitis C Help Book. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2007.
Everson, M.D., Gregory and Weinberg, Hedy. Living with Hepatitis C: A Survivor’s Guide. New York: Hatherleigh Press, 2009.
Fontana M.D., Robert. “TIPS Procedure: Effects on Kidneys, History and More” http://www.hepatitis-central.com/hcv/whatis/shunt.html. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
Nabili, M.D. Siamak. “Ascites” http://www.medicinenet.com/ascites/article.htm. Retrieved on October 7, 2010.
Palmer, M.D., Melissa. Dr. Melissa Palmer’s Guide to Hepatitis & Liver Disease. New York: Avery Trade, 2004.
Washington, Harriet A. Living Healthy with Hepatitis C. New York: Dell Publishing, 2000