The effect of cyclophosphamide on the exchange of ascitic fluid constituents with plasma

The administration of cyclophosphamide into the ascitic fluid in cases of ascites enhances the clearance of various electrolytes and proteins but not tryptophan from the ascitic fluid, without corresponding elevation of their levels in plasma. The exchanges induced across the plasma ascitic fluid barrier as a result of cylophosphamide probably follow, and are compensatory to a general hypoproteinemic effect resulting from an unfavorable effect on the general protein metabolism.