An evaluation of combining reinfusing concentrated ascitic fluid and OK-432 therapy in patients with intractable malignant ascites

Abstract

We have performed a total of 356 intravenous reinfusions of ascites in 91 cases of malignant ascites encountered at our hospital. These patients were refractory to treatment with various drugs including diuretics. Ascitic drainage by paracentesis was performed in another 30 cases.
The following findings were obtained: 1. Intravenous reinfusion of ascites was a more useful clinical therapy than drainage of ascites by paracentesis. 2. The therapeutic effect of intravenous reinfusion of ascites tended to be increased when it was combined with biological response modifiers (BRM) such as OK-432. 3. The combined administration of OK-432 with intravenous reinfusion of ascites was not so different between subcutaneous and intraperitoneal routes of administration. 4. The combination of anti-cancer agents with the intravenous reinfusion of ascites failed to improve the therapeutic effect. 5. Fever was the main side effect of this therapy. It was well tolerated with appropriate antipyretics.