Patient's question:
My father is naturally on the leaner side of the body type, and he looks very thin overall. However, recently I've noticed that his abdomen seems to be noticeably shrinking, and he often suffers from poor appetite. After a careful examination, it was discovered that he has ascites. How should ascites be treated?Doctor's answer:
Ascites is mostly caused by cirrhosis or conditions such as portal hypertension. It may be accompanied by hypoalbuminemia, and in cases of minimal ascites, the body can absorb it on its own. Large amounts of ascites can be treated by paracentesis, while diuretic medications can be used in conjunction. If there is hypoalbuminemia, albumin can be administered through infusion. For cirrhosis, medications to reduce enzyme levels and protect the liver are necessary to adjust and alleviate liver damage.