Treatment for cirrhotic ascites

Common complications of decompensated liver cirrhosis are esophageal varices, hepatic encephalopathy and ascites. After the onset of complications, the prognosis worsens. In patients with ascites, the 5-year mortality rate is 44%. Furthermore, hyponatremia, spontaneous bacterial translocation and hepatorenal syndrome also greatly worsen the prognosis. Effective treatment of cirrhotic ascites improves the quality of life and survival rate. Recently, the newly produced diuretic, tolvaptan (vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist), was reported to be effective in the treatment of refractory ascites in liver cirrhosis; however, there has not been an associated positive effect on the prognosis. There are various types of treatment for ascites, such as large-volume paracenteses, a cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy, a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, and a peritoneo-venous shunt. Although they improve the prognosis, liver transplantation remains the ultimate form of treatment. The present article discusses the therapeutic management of cirrhotic ascites.