Abstract

Background: The traditional way of classification of ascites by AFTP offers little insight to the pathophysiology of ascites formation and it has further drawbacks. In order to overcome it the classification of ascites based on SAAG has emerged. Even SAAG also has some draw backs like non correlation with ascites due to nonalcoholic cirrhosis and difficulty in identifying the ascites due to mixed etiology. So, the study is conducted to compare the serum ascetic fluid albumin gradient (SAAG) with ascetic fluid total protein (AFTP) in hepatic and non-hepatic causes of ascites at tertiary care center.
Materials& Methods: A hospital based prospective study done on 80 patientswho were admitted in the medical ward under Department of General Medicine, General surgery and radiation oncology in SMS Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan. They are classified on the basis of SAAG into High SAAG and low SAAG and on the basis of AFTP into Transudate and Exudate. After the etiology of ascites evaluated by various diagnostic procedures the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of SAAG and AFTP in identifying the pathophysiology of ascites calculated separately. The diagnostic accuracies of SAAG and AFTP compared statistically.
Results: Our study showed that the mean age was 50.23 years. Male to female ratio was 2.33:1. The cirrhosis occupies the maximum with 60%, liver metastasis, Antenatal with Hypertensionoccupiestheleastwith1.25%each. The diagnostic accuracy of SAAG and AFTP for individual aetiologies of ascites were found and compared. SAAG was found to be superior to AFTP with a P value of <0.01 which was statistically significant.
Conclusion: We concluded that the diagnostic accuracy of SAAG and AFTP was compared and SAAG was found to be superior to AFTP and it was proved statistically significant.