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Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Invasive Hemodynamic Characterization of the Portal-hypertensive Syndrome in Cirrhotic Rats
Published on: August 1, 2018
Ascitic fluid total protein, a useful marker in non-portal hypertensive ascites
Shenghua Zhu1, Li Du1, Dong Xu2
1Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Background And Aims:
Diagnostic performance of ascitic fluid total protein (AFTP) concentration remained unsettled. Our aim was to determine diagnostic value of AFTP in differential diagnosis of causes of ascites.
Methods:
Seven hundred four consecutive patients with new-onset ascites were prospectively enrolled in this study.
Results:
In the training cohort, diagnostic performance of quantitative AFTP assay was superior to that of Rivalta test in differential diagnosis of ascites. At the predetermined cut-off value of 25 g/L, quantitative AFTP assay was more useful in the differentiation of non-portal hypertensive ascites from portal hypertensive ascites compared with the exudate-transudate classification, area under curve of receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.958. Quantitative AFTP assay was superior to serum-ascites albumin gradient in the detection of non-portal hypertensive ascites, especially malignant ascites and tuberculous peritonitis. In mixed ascites, AFTP was useful in identifying peritoneal lesions.
Conclusions:
Ascitic fluid total protein is a useful marker in non-portal hypertensive ascites; thus, it should be determined in diagnostic work-up of the patients with ascites.
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