Serum-ascites albumin gradient
Serum-ascites albumin gradient (pronunciation: /ˈsɪərəm æˈsaɪtiːz ælˈbjuːmɪn ˈɡreɪdiənt/), often abbreviated as SAAG, is a calculation used in medicine to assist in determining the cause of ascites. The gradient is the difference between the serum albumin concentration and the ascites albumin concentration.
Etymology
The term "serum-ascites albumin gradient" is derived from its components: "serum" (from Latin serum, "whey"), "ascites" (from Greek askites, "baglike"), and "albumin" (from Latin albumen, "white of an egg"). The "gradient" refers to the difference in concentration between two locations.
Calculation
The SAAG is calculated by subtracting the ascites albumin concentration from the serum albumin concentration. A high SAAG (greater than 1.1 g/dL) indicates that the ascites is likely due to portal hypertension, while a low SAAG (less than 1.1 g/dL) suggests that the ascites is likely due to other causes.
Related terms
- Ascites: The accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, causing abdominal swelling.
- Serum: The clear, yellowish part of blood that remains after clotting.
- Albumin: A type of protein that is soluble in water and coagulable by heat, such as that found in egg white, blood serum, and many other animal and plant tissues and fluids.
- Portal hypertension: An increase in the blood pressure within a system of veins called the portal venous system.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Serum-ascites albumin gradient
- Wikipedia's article - Serum-ascites albumin gradient
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