Ascites, Hepatorenal Syndrome, and Encephalopathy J. Eileen Hay, MB,ChB

The portal hypertension and hepatic synthetic dysfunction of cirrhosis cause three main complications as liver disease progresses: variceal bleeding, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy.

ASCITES Ascites is the most common major complication and occurs in about 50% of patients with compensated cirrhosis in 10 years. The development of ascites denotes the transition from compensated to decompensated cirrhosis. It causes increased morbidity from abdominal distention and increased mortality from complications such as spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and renal dysfunction, with a median survival of 2 to 5 years.