Recent status and prospect of ascites treatment in cirrhosis patients

Ascites is the most common complication in cirrhosis, and is closely related to the increased mortality due to infection, diluted hyponatremia and renal failure.Rest and sodium restriction are the components of the managements of uncomplicated mild ascites.Low dose diuretics are effective in patients with moderate ascites.Furthermore, the large-volume paracentesis (LVP) with albumin administration (8 g/L of ascites removed) are the treatment of choice for the management of patients with large ascites.As to the refractory ascites, methods for treatment include repeated LVP with plasma expander or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) .New medicines such as vasoconstrictors and V2-receptors of vasopressin maybe beneficial in patients with ascites in liver cirrhosis.