While patients with grade 1 ascites may not
require immediate treatment, measures should
be taken to prevent the development of grade
2 or 3 ascites (Table 1). Patients with grade
2 or moderate ascites can be treated at home
with follow up, unless other complications of
cirrhosis are also present. Treatment is aimed
at reducing sodium intake and increasing renal
sodium excretion (Garcia-Tsao 2011). This
reduces the formation of ascites by reducing
the amount of sodium and water retained by
the kidneys (Sargent 2009). Advising a reduced
sodium diet may seem conflicting when
hyponatraemia is a potential complication.