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Ascites associated with antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis
1Division of Gastroenterology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia 65212, USA.
Southern Medical Journal
|October 1, 1996
Summary
Pseudomembranous colitis can cause ascites and hypoalbuminemia, even in elderly patients. This rare complication requires careful diagnosis, as other causes of ascites are more common.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Pseudomembranous colitis, often caused by Clostridium difficile, is typically associated with diarrhea.
- Ascites is an uncommon complication of pseudomembranous colitis.
Observation:
- A case study of an elderly patient with ascites due to pseudomembranous colitis and hypoalbuminemia.
- Imaging revealed diffuse colonic wall thickening and abnormal indium-111 uptake throughout the colon.
- Review of institutional cases identified 16 instances of ascites associated with Clostridium difficile colitis over one year.
Findings:
- In most cases, ascites was primarily attributed to other conditions like portal hypertension, heart failure, or sepsis.
- The patient in the case study died despite treatment, with autopsy revealing no other cause for ascites besides possible sepsis.
Implications:
- This study highlights the importance of considering pseudomembranous colitis as a potential cause of ascites, particularly in elderly patients.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms linking Clostridium difficile colitis to ascites and to improve patient outcomes.