A total 97 paired serum & ascites fluid samples from ascitic  patients  were       

   collected and  analyzed.

     The   utility   of   the     serum - ascites   albumin  gradient  &   the   exudate 

   transudate concept as defined by ascitic fluid total protein   concentration  

   (A.F.T.P) were  compared.

     46  patients  were suffering from liver cirrhosis (47.4%) & 43 patients  (93.5%) 

   from this group had AFTP < 2.5 g/dl . Albumin gradient in the same  patients

   was > 1.1 g/dl . In 10 patients (100%)  with ascites due to  malignancy AFTP >

   2.5 g/dl ,and in 50% of the patients in this group albumin gradient > 1.1 g/dl

   and in  the  rest  of   the  patients  (50%)  with    malignant   ascites   albumin

   gradient  was < 1.1 g/dl.

     Only in  diagnosis   of  malignant   ascites   AFTP  was  preferred to albumin 

   gradient   in  our  research  but  in  other   cases  it  was  not  any  superiority

   between the tow concepts.