Fig. 1.

Randomized controlled trial of effect of sodium-unrestricted diet (SUD) on ascites in patients with hepatic cirrhosis. Progressive flow at different stages. Our hospital have received 271 cases of cirrhosis ascites assessed for the eligibility from January 2007 to May 2010. Of all the cases, 71 patients are excluded, 61 cases not meeting the inclusion criteria and 10 cases refusing to participate. The left 200 patients were randomly divided into two groups, 98 cases of SUD and 102 cases of sodium-restricted diet (SRD). The patients in both SUD and SRD groups receive intervention. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis occurred in 1 case of SUD group on the fifth day after treatment. Upper digestive tract bleeding occurred in 1 case of SRD group on the third day after treatment and the two cases withdrew from the trial. Ninety-seven cases in SUD group and 101 cases in SRD group accomplished the trial until discharge or death.