SAAG in Differential Diagnosis of Ascites

Ascites is one of the most common clinical problems confronting a physician and ascitic fluid analysis is the most effective way to diagnose it. The classification of ascites into 'transudative' and 'exudative' has lately been challenged; it offers little insight to the pathophysiology of ascitic fluid formation. These drawbacks led to new approach to classify ascites, based on albumin gradient between serum and ascitic fluid. The aim was to differentiate ascites on the basis of SAAG and compare the diagnostic accuracy of SAAG with that of ascitic fluid total protein (aTP). A cross-sectional study on 100 patients with ascites, admitted in Medicine ward, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, Manipur, conducted during the period of August 2013 to August 2014. The patients were subgroup into ascites with portal hypertension (n=60) and without portal hypertension (n=40). Estimation of albumin in ascitic fluid and serum and total protein were estimated with established colorimetric methods. The aTP values in Group A and B had a mean of 2.22 [+ or -] 0.63 gm/dl (P< 0.001) and 3.34 [+ or -] 0.7 gm/dl (P