VALUE OF ASCITIC FLUID FERRITIN IN THE DIFFERENTIAL-DIAGNOSIS OF MALIGNANT ASCITES

The ascitic fluid ferritin concentrations were compared with selum-asc ites albumin gradient (SAAG), in their diagnostic ability for detectio n of malignancy in 60 patients with ascites: 29 with chronic liver dis ease alone (CLD) and 31 patients with various neoplasms. Of the patien ts with malignancy, 12 had liver metastases, 9 had no evidence df live r involvement,and 10 had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with or withou t coexisting liver cirrhosis. Analysis of our data confirms that the a scitic ferritin is a more accurate indicator of malignant ascites (MA) than the SAAG. This new parameter is particularly helpful in distingu ishing MA associated with HCC and/or metastatic liver disease from non malignant ascites due to CLD alone.