Many diseases can cause hepatic ascites, but the most common is portal hypertension, which is usually caused by cirrhosis of the liver. With portal hypertension, there is an increase in the pressure of blood flowing into the liver, along with an increase in cardiac output, resulting in increased blood flow in the visceral circulation without efficient return, thus causing hepatic ascites. In addition, the decreased synthesis capacity of the liver itself in cirrhosis in turn leads to a decrease in intravascular albumin levels. An important role of intravascular albumin is to maintain the colloid osmotic pressure in the blood vessels, i.e., to lock in water to prevent fluid from escaping from the vessels. Some components of plasma can leak into the peritoneal cavity to form hepatic ascites when albumin levels fall. These components will contain small amounts of albumin, and as the amount of albumin in ascites increases, the colloid osmotic pressure in ascites increases further, absorbing water from the blood past the ascites. Protein leaks from the blood vessels into the peritoneal cavity with the blood components resulting in hypoproteinemia. Albumin, the main protein in the blood, helps. As albumin continues to increase in ascites, the fluid component of the blood increases further, leading to increased ascites. Portal hypertension is usually caused by cirrhosis (severe scarring of the liver), which is usually caused by ingesting large amounts of alcohol or viral hepatitis. These diseases, which are not normally controlled, can cause cirrhosis and lead to ascites formation. Hepatic ascites can also occur in other liver diseases such as severe alcoholic hepatitis without cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis and hepatic vein obstruction. These diseases cause ascites through similar causes, leading to increased pressure in the blood vessels in the liver. Most liver cancers in China occur as a result of cirrhosis. If cirrhosis is severe ascites can occur. Liver ascites can result from a range of liver diseases. The presence of liver ascites implies a loss of liver function and requires standardized treatment.