Ascites is excess fluid in the space between the tissues lining the abdomen and abdominal organs (the peritoneal cavity).

See also:

• Alcoholic liver disease
• Cirrhosis

Portal hypertension - ascites

A person with ascites usually has severe liver disease. Ascites due to liver disease is caused by high pressure in the blood vessels of the liver (portal hypertension) and low albumin levels.

Disorders that may be associated with ascites include:

• Cirrhosis and any illness that leads to it
• Clots in the veins of the liver (portal vein thrombosis)
• Colon cancer
• Congestive heart failure
• Constrictive pericarditis
• Hepatitis
• Infections such as tuberculosis
• Liver cancer
• Nephrotic syndrome
• Ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer
• Pancreatitis
• Pancreatic cancer
• Protein-losing enteropathy

Kidney dialysis may also be associated with ascites.

Images

Digestive system organs

Ascites with ovarian cancer, CT scan

Review Date: 12/13/2010
Reviewed By: George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)