If a drug distributes into total body water, but liver cirrhosis reduces albumin production and increases ascites (abdominal fluid accumulation), which consequence follows regarding drug pharmacokinetics?

💡 Explanation

Ascites increases the volume available for drug distribution, especially for water-soluble drugs. Because cirrhosis reduces albumin, less drug binds to plasma proteins, therefore more is free to distribute, and volume of distribution increases, rather than bioavailability decreasing or clearance sharply declining, which are separate processes.

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