Is ascitic fluid a transudate?
Is ascitic fluid a transudate?
Answer. In the past, ascites was classified as being a transudate or an exudate. In transudative ascites, fluid was said to cross the liver capsule because of an imbalance in Starling forces. In general, ascites protein would be less than 2.5 g/dL in this form of ascites.
What does exudate ascites mean?
In exudative ascites, fluid was said to weep from an inflamed or tumor-laden peritoneum. In general, ascites protein in exudative ascites would be greater than 2.5 g/dL. Causes of the condition would include peritoneal carcinomatosis and tuberculous peritonitis.
Is peritoneal fluid transudate or exudate?
The fluid that accumulates in this case is called a transudate. Transudates are most often caused by congestive heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, or hepatic cirrhosis. An injury or inflammation of the peritoneum, in which case the fluid is called an exudate.
How much peritoneal fluid is normal?
The peritoneal cavity normally contains approximately 50–75 mls of fluid that serves to lubricate the tissues that line the abdominal wall and viscera. The term ascites is reserved to denote an abnormal accumulation of this fluid.
How is a transudate different from an exudate?
The clinical classification of transudate or exudate was reached independently by a retrospective review of the course of the illness through examination of the patient notes and other laboratory data, which included the fluid total protein, but not fluid LDH or fluid cholesterol.
What makes an ascitic fluid an exudate or transudate?
A low SAAG (<1.1g/dL) suggests the ascitic fluid is an exudate. Another way of differentiating between an exudate and a transudate is to assess the ascitic fluid’s lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level: This method has largely been replaced by the use of SAAG.
When is pleural fluid a transudate or an exudate?
To distinguish exudates from transudates if the patient’s serum total protein is normal and the pleural fluid protein is less than 25g/L the fluid is a transudate. If the pleural fluid protein is greater than 35g/L the fluid is an exudate.
What causes the build up of exudate in the body?
“Exudate” is fluid buildup caused by tissue leakage due to inflammation or local cellular damage. The fluid is exudate if one of the following Light’s criteria is present: