OSMOTIC FACTORS INFLUENCING THE FORMATION OF ASCITES IN PATIENTS WITH CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER

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Abstract
Studies were made of osmotic factors in the formation of ascites in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. The colloid osmotic pressure of serum and ascitic fluid was measured in an Hepp osmometer. As-citic fluid vol. was measured by an adaptation of the Evans blue dye dilution method. In the unmodified course of formation and loss of ascites, there was, in each patient, a constant difference between the colloid osmotic pressures of the plasma and ascitic fluid. Following exptl. alteration of the colloid osmotic pressure of the plasma or ascitic fluid by a) mercupurin diuresis, b) intravenous injn. of conc. human serum albumin, c) oral administration of physiological saline, and d) intraperit. injn. of physiologic saline, there were changes in the rates of fluid and protein exchange which tended to restore the preexisting colloid osmotic pressure difference . It is suggested that approximate osmotic equilibrium exists between the plasma and ascitic fluid in patients with cirrhosis of the liver.