The role of oxidative stress parameters in the differential diagnosis of malignant and benign ascites

OBJECTIVE: Ascites is the pathological fluid accumulation in the peritoneal cavity and there are mainly two reasons for its etiology. These are malignant diseases such as hepatoma or pancreas cancer and benign diseases such as liver cirrhosis and heart failure. In this study, we investigated the diagnostic utility of arylesterase (ARES), paraoxonase (PON), stimulated paraoxonase (SPON), catalase (CAT) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the differential diagnosis of malignant and benign ascites. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was conducted between February and September 2016. Patients with acute infection, those taking vitamin supplements and antioxidant medication, smoking, and drinking alcohol were excluded from the study. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 60 patients: 36 had benign (60%) and 24 had malignant (40%) ascites. The mean age of the patients was 63.3 years. MPO levels (14.2 vs. 4.2; p=0.028) were found to be higher and PON (2.6 vs. 4.5; p0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PON, SPON, ARES, CAT, and MPO can be used with high sensitivity and specificity in the differential diagnosis of malignant and benign ascite