The history may reveal a precipitating cause. These include:
Hypovolemia
Gastrointestinal bleeding
Hypokalemia and/or metabolic alkalosis
Hypoxia
Sedatives
Hypoglycemia
Infection (including spontaneous bacterial peritonitis)
Rarely, hepatocellular carcinoma and/or vascular occlusion (hepatic vein or portal vein thrombosis)