[Immunological parameters in the differential diagnosis of ascites secondary to peritoneal carcinomatosis, hepatic cirrhosis, and congestive heart failure].

As a contribution to the study of ascites in patients with liver cirrhosis, congestive heart failure and peritoneal carcinomatosis evaluate in serum and ascites the concentrations of alphafetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen and fibronectin, they might suggest a diagnosis for the basic pathology. Forty-seven patients were studied, from whom 23 with cirrhosis, 17 peritoneal carcinomatosis and 7 with congestive heart failure. We conclude that: a) none of the tools usually employed in the analysis of ascitic fluid alone can make the base pathological process responsible for producing ascites; b) fibronectins were more useful for differential diagnosis between cirrhosis and carcinomatosis; c) alpha-fetoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen were not useful for the definition for differential diagnosis.