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Composition of ascitic fluid in liver cirrhosis: bile acid and lipid content
Author(s) -
SALVIOLI G.,
TATA C.,
PANINI R.,
PELLATI M.,
LUGLI R.,
GAETTI E.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2362.1993.tb00962.x
Subject(s) - albumin , chemistry , ascitic fluid , bile acid , cholesterol , blood proteins , ultrafiltration (renal) , peritoneal fluid , cirrhosis , plasma lipoprotein , cholic acid , serum albumin , biochemistry , medicine , lipoprotein , ascites
. The concentrations of lipids, bile acids and proteins were evaluated in the ascitic fluid and plasma of 23 cirrhotics. Ascitic fluid density was highly correlated with its protein content, represented mostly by low molecular weight proteins. The ratio of plasma to ascitic fluid concentrations of nine examined proteins increased with molecular weight, indicating a selective ultrafiltration of the peritoneal transudate. Low density lipoproteins in ascitic fluid had modified electrophoretic mobility. Total cholesterol had a higher plasma to ascitic fluid ratio than high density lipoprotein cholesterol, whereas bile acids and proteins had similar plasma to ascitic fluid ratios. Indeed, bile acids strongly bind to circulating albumin: consequently ascitic fluid contains more cholic acid (less hydrophobic) than other bile acids. Analysis of both plasma and ascitic fluid composition in cirrhotics provides useful information on processes regulating passage of blood components into the peritoneal cavity.