OVERVIEW classified according to serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) CAUSES High SAAG (“transudate”) cirrhosis, hepatic failure, hepatic venous occlusion, constrictive pericarditis, kwashiorkor, cardiac failure, alcoholic hepatitis, liver metastasis Low SSAG (“exudate”) malignancy, infection (bacterial, fungal, Tb), pancreatitis, nephrotic syndrome, bowel obstruction…