A 62-year-old guy visits the office to have his abdominal swelling examined. His abdomen has gotten increasingly bloated over the past few weeks, and this has been accompanied by some slight discomfort and a loss of appetite. There have been some admissions for alcohol-induced pancreatitis in the past. The patient currently consumes one pint of alcohol every day and abstains from using tobacco or other substances. Physical examination reveals many spider angiomas on the upper chest and a moderately icteric sclera. When the patient lies on either side, the dullness to percussion shifts to a different position due to the enlarged abdomen. Creatinine is 1.1 mg/dL and serum sodium is 130 mEq/dL. Which of the following would this patient most likely exhibit?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Due to vasodilation and a reduction in systemic perfusion pressure brought on by portal hypertension in cirrhosis, salt and water retention are encouraged by the release of antidiuretic hormone and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. But the fluid is third-spaced into the extravascular compartments because to resistance to splanchnic flow, low oncotic pressure, and hyperdynamic circulation (eg, ascites). Therefore, people with cirrhosis continue to have low intravascular volume despite having an increased total body capacity.

A 62-Year-Old Guy Visits the Office to Have His Abdominal