CLINICAL-PATTERN OF ASCITES IN A SAUDI SERIES

Objectives: To evaluate clinical pattern of ascites. Design: Analysis of data obtained from 228 patients admitted over a period of 7 years. Setting: King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh. Subjects: Patients a dmitted with ascites between 1405 and 1411 H (1985-1991 G) who had hae matological, biochemical and microbiological examination of ascitic fl uid. Results: Liver cirrhosis accounted for 50.4% of cases and maligna nt liver disease for 14.9% patients with and without liver cirrhosis. Other hepatic causes of ascites were chronic active hepatitis in 6.6% and hepatic schistosomiasis in 3.9% of patients. Other diseases associ ated with ascites included peritoneal tuberculosis, cardiac failure, r enal disease and other causes in 10, 4.8, 4.4 and 4.8% of patients, re spectively. Conclusion: Hepatic diseases are the major causes of ascit es with cirrhosis as the leading cause.