Etiological Profile of Exudative Ascites

Introduction: Exudative ascites, unlike cirrhotic ascites, result from various—often severe—pathologies and require a rigorous diagnostic approach.

Objective: To determine the etiological profile of exudative ascites in a series of patients hospitalized in a gastroenterology department.

Methods: A retrospective, descriptive, monocentric study including 61 patients hospitalized for exudative ascites between July 2018 and July 2023 at Ibn Sina University Hospital in Rabat.

Results: The mean age was 52 years, with a male predominance (M/F sex ratio = 1.17). The main symptoms were abdominal distension (78.68%), impaired general condition (68.85%), and night sweats (16.39%). Ascitic fluid was lymphocytic in 90.16% of cases. The most frequent etiologies were peritoneal carcinomatosis and peritoneal tuberculosis. Laparoscopy was required in 65.57% of cases.

Conclusion: The etiological diagnosis of exudative ascites remains complex and often relies on laparoscopy. The two main identified causes were peritoneal carcinomatosis and tuberculosis.