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ROSWELL W. PHILLIPS, M.D.; ARTHUR M. PHILLIPS, M.D.

AMA Arch Intern Med. 1951;87(5):636-645.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

SINCE sodium excretion is greatly reduced in cirrhotic patients forming ascitic fluid¹ and the formation of ascitic fluid has been shown to be directly proportional to sodium intake,² a logical plan of therapeutic management might include consideration of this factor.

We have studied the influence of restricted sodium intake on the clinical course of ascites in patients with Laennec's cirrhosis. All the patients presented a clearcut picture of the disease, with ascites as a prominent feature.

During a control period the patients received a high protein, high carbohydrate, low fat diet without salt restriction. In addition, during their period of hospitalization they received supplementary vitamins, methionine and liver extract intramuscularly. After the control period a special diet was instituted, consisting of 3,400 calories and containing 135 Gm. of protein and 605 mg. of sodium. Records were kept of the daily weight fluid intake and output and urinary chloride . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
PROVIDENCE, R. I.

From the Medical Service, Veterans Administration Hospital.

Footnotes
Reviewed in the Veterans Administration and published with the approval of the Chief Medical Director. The statements and conclusions published by the authors are a result of their own study and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of the Veterans Administration.