Trajectory of Ascites Pressure and Outcomes of Patients with Cirrhosis Undergoing Paracentesis

Background: Ascites severity is an important prognostic marker of liver disease. We hypothesize that ascites pressure correlates with outcomes of patients undergoing therapeutic paracentesis. Methods: Adults with portal hypertensive ascites (n=87) undergoing therapeutic paracentesis (n=261) had pressure measured during drainage using a non-invasive manometer setup and were followed for 365 days. Results: Pressure drop during paracentesis was associated with event-free survival after adjusting for MELD 3.0 and age (aHR 0.43 per 5 cmH2O, 95% CI [0.21, 0.90], p=0.02), but volume drained was not. Conclusions: Ascites pressure provides MELD-independent prognostic information in patients undergoing paracentesis.