Clinical Outcomes and Healthcare Costs of CART Versus Paracentesis for Malignant Ascites: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study in Japan.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Paracentesis temporarily relieves malignant ascites but causes hypoalbuminemia. Cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy (CART) reinfuses autologous proteins to prevent hypoalbuminemia and has been increasingly used in Japan. However, CART has not been widely adopted outside of Japan, and its benefit remains unclear. We evaluated the clinical outcomes and healthcare costs of CART compared with paracentesis in metastatic cancer.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included hospitalized patients with metastatic solid cancer receiving CART or paracentesis across Japan (April 2016-March 2023). Baseline characteristics were balanced using overlap propensity-score weighting. Primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality, functional disability, and 30-day

SUBMITTER: Hashimoto Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12743171 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature