Ascites

Question: Is it possible to get ascites from protein deficiency alone? I'm familiar with ascites because I knew someone who had it. I've read that it can occur in people with protein deficiencies, in varying levels of severity in appearance. Is it possible for someone to develop ascites from a severe protein deficiency?

Answer: I realize this doesn't directly answer your question but may provide some insight. Ascites is commonly seen in chronic alcoholism.

Question: is there a homeopathic remedy for ascites in cats? My cat has been diagnosed with a liver tumor, and has ascites(abdominal fluid)....is there a homepathic remedy for ascites?

Answer: It is not easy to find a homeopathic veterinarian or a veterinary homeopath. Are you sure you know what homeopathy is? It is a totally different approach than regular veterinary medicine. There are more than a thousand homeopathic remedies in regular use (humans and animals use the same remedies) so there is not ONE remedy for any particular thing. Remedies are prescribed on the basis of each individual case. For an excellent presentation of what homeopathy is go to: http://littlebigcat.com and read Dr. Jean Hovfe's article titled "Introduction to Homeopathy". There are two veterinary homeopaths who are leaders of Yahoo groups. Irene de Villiers at CATWELL and Magda Aguilar at ClassicalHomeopathy/Pets. Both of those practitioners can be consulted on individual cases. The biggest hurdle for most people in using that method of treatment is that the animal does not have to be "seen" by the practitioner. I have two cats with cancer being treated homeopathically. The veterinarian is in MA and I (and the cats) are in CA.

Question: what is the pathology behind ascites in ovarian cancer? Don't understand what causes the ascites. I realize that it's an exuadative fluid. Is it just a secretion from cancer cells that have seeded into peritoneum? Thanks.

Answer: i'm not sure about the answer, but you can try asking a reproductive endocrinologist online for free, try fertilityties.com good luck!!

Question: Can you tell if Ascites is Malignant (from cancer) or from cirrosis? I think my father may have been misdiagnosed. They have been saying its caused by cancer, but they (they meaning top hospitals in NYC) have been unable to locate tumor site. Also the diuretics seemed to work well and its not supposed to help in Malignant Ascites.

Answer: Peritoneal fluid aspiration of the ascitic fluid, with microscopic examination to look for malignant cells, is a common diagnostic procedure.

Question: Why does ascites occur when plasma proteins manufactured by the liver aren't produced in adequate numbers? I know it's to do with albumin just don't know the link between low levels of albumin and ascites.

Answer: albumin functions to increase the intracapillary osmotic pressue which is the pressure that tends to attract fluids back into the capillaries. in cases of hypoalbuminemia, osmotic pressure decreases so there is less fluid moving back into your circulation and more fluid accumulating in the extravascular fluid spaces particularly the anterior peritoneal cavity in ascites

Question: What type of oncologist is most likely to see a patient with malignant ascites? I'm looking for specific subspecialties/areas of focus if possible, not just "medical" or "surgical" oncologist. Thanks!

Answer: My son had malignant ascites and he saw a pediatric oncologist. He had 30 pounds of fluid in his belly and was diagnosed with a rare abdominal desmoplastic sarcoma (presents as multiple tumors). They gave him a diuretic and he was able to eliminate the fluid in that way. Malignant ascites is a condition brought about by abdominal related cancers ( breast, lung, large bowel (colon), stomach, pancreas, ovary or endometrial cancers) and is treated by giving a diuretic (lasix) or the fluid can be drained with a tube by a process called paracentesis. Ascites can be a real and debilitating problem with advanced abdominal cancers. There does appear to be a (palliative or curative) treatment for this called intra-peritonal hyperthermic chemoperfusion that may halt the onset of ascites. http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/20… My son underwent a successful cytoreductive surgery followed by intra-peritoneal hyperthermic chemoperfusion to treat not only the ascites, but also to kill off all the peritoneal seedings left by the fluid.

Question: Why is it contraindicated to perform needle aspiration for liver biopsy if the patient has ascites? Ok, the fluid is "albumin-rich", but my question is: so what?

Answer: Actually the opposite is true. The albumin level in the surrounding tissue is not causing the swelling where you wish to aspirate. Albumins are not being made by the liver so the blood has fewer proteins to hold the fluid in the blood system. The patients with ascites have lower serum levels of albumin because of liver damage preventing or greatly reducing their manufacture. The fluid in the blood stream migrates into surrounding tissue causing swelling in an attempt to balance the isotonicity. Pulling the fluid off just causes more to rush in and lowering the patient's blood pressure. Pulling off fluid by aspiration does not change the amount of total albumin in the serum which is the real cause of the fluid shift. Re-hydrating with water makes the fluid rush back into the surrounding tissue all over again so you basically just wasted your time and put the patient at risk for an infection with the needle prick. (People with ascites do not get decent soft tissue circulation to fight off infection by antibodies or with antibiotics.) The only way to get the fluid to migrate the other way is with an injection of plasma albumin into the circulatory system but you also have to watch out that the patient's blood pressure is not raised to dangerous limits in the process. The results are fleeting... maybe lasting a few days since the source of protein production in the liver is marginal at best. The best thing to improve the situation is to stop the liver damage if possible since it is responsible for the manufacture of albumins for the blood stream. Stop drinking alcohol if it is self induced. A liver transplant for hepatitis, cancer.... welcome to the new you. It is not just albumins that are low ... the total protein levels in the circulatory system are all affected. Needle aspiration into an inflamed liver you risk uncontrollable bleeds.. Depending on the severity of the ascites... INR times may approach 20. Like I said all sorts of protein manufacture are dammaged including the proteins responsible for factor 8 and other clotting proteins.

Question: what is the relation between mosaic perfusion and ascites? Hello, Please your opinion only- NOT WEBSITE How or what do you undestand in terms of relation betweem CT scan result (mosaic perfusion and other ct with mosaic attenuation pattern) and ascites with Upper Left Abdominal swollen followed by back pain that radiates from the same direction with back swollen and skin spot (skin looks okay but with mark as if someone bit inside is becoming bright or lighter skin color - not white), skin does not itch, I can feel the difference. Abdoniminal swollen makes noise, hurts and the noise radiates to chest left side as if gases are circulation follwed by pain. wird but this is the best way I can describe. I appreciate your opinion - THANK YOU I am going to Doctors over a year already and have not got a single answer.

Answer: Well, the doctors should have discussed these findings with you - ?

Question: Goat antibodies against a mouse ascites fluid? Why would a goat make antibodies against a mouse ascites fluid?

Answer: Let's take the following situation. The ascites fluid contains antigens that the goat (naive goat, that is) has never seen before. You inject the ascites fluid into the goat, and the goat "sees" these antigens as foreign, ie, non-self, and makes an antibody to the components in the ascites fluid. Ascites fluid usually contains a mish-mash of proteins and cellular components. If the goat has seen these antigens before, then the goat will make antibodies using its memory from the previous appearance. This is the simple answer. There are numerous components in immunology that go into this process in more detail.

Question: The patient is suffering from liver mass possible hepatoma ascites.Where in Bangalore is the best treatment? The best affordable hospital in Bangalore to treat the above said disease

Answer: There is no treatment for cirrhosis. Liver transplant is the only available option.