Card 21 / 33: A 67 year old woman is admitted to the hospital due to progressive abdominal distension and peripheral edema. Physical examination reveals bulging flanks and shifting dullness. An abdominal ultrasound confirms the presence of ascites. A paracentesis is performed. The serum-ascites albumin gradient (serum albumin-ascitic fluid albumin) is calculated to be 0.8. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for the ascites in this patient?
A) Alcohol induced cirrhosis
B) Cancer of the peritoneum (peritoneal carcinomatosis)
C) Congestive heart failure
D) Budd-Chiari syndrome
E) Hepatitis B cirrhosis

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