Correlation between changes in bodyweight and changes in ascites volume in liver cirrhosis patients with hepatic edema in short-term diuretic therapy

Aim: Although it is an important treatment challenge to treat ascites with diuretic therapy, no objective markers have been established to assess improvement of ascites. However, change in bodyweight has been used as a marker of change in ascites volume. Thus, we evaluated the relationship between changes in bodyweight and changes in ascites volume in liver cirrhosis patients with ascites. Methods: We calculated ascites volume in patients using the simple 5-point method by conventional computed tomography and conducted a correlation analysis between changes in bodyweight and changes in ascites volume as a part of our double-blind phase 3 trial of tolvaptan. Result: Change in bodyweight (x-axis) was correlated with change in ascites volume (y-axis) in all included patients (r = 0.52). A strong correlation were observed between the changes in patients without lower limb edema (r = 0.61). These correlations between the changes were expressed by the following linear regression equations: y = -0.102 + 0.206x or y = -0.033 + 0.292x, respectively. Proportions of change in ascites volume to change in bodyweight were estimated to be nearly 30%. Therefore, bodyweight reduction was confirmed to lead to improvement in ascites. Conclusion: Change in bodyweight can be an objective marker to assess improvement of hepatic edema in the short-term diuretic therapy in everyday clinical practice. Decrease in ascites volume was estimated to account for nearly 30% of bodyweight reduction.