Review for 10.1186/s12876-020-01205-2 (2020)

Reviewer’s report
Title: Clinical implications with tolvaptan on monitored bioimpedance-defined fluid status in patients
with cirrhotic ascites: an observational study
Version: 1 Date: 08 Nov 2019
Reviewer: Cyriac Abby Philips
Reviewer's report:
Thank you for the opportunity to review the revised manuscript
The authors have painstakingly revised and tried to bring in decorum into the revised version.
The following may be addressed:
The use of the term hepatic edema may be reconsidered. Did the authors mean ascites? If so, cirrhotic
ascites could be a better term.
In Figure 3, the p value should be <0.001
The lack of a control group is still a major issue with this study. A historical control group matched to
liver disease severity and on diuretics without add on tolvaptan could still be considered. We do not
require  the  whole  of  BIA based  assessment  to  be  present,  but  only  outcomes,  such  as  weight
differences, survival and other liver and renal related events which could be easily retrieved from
patient and electronic files. This would be an important addition to the authors conclusions on their
work.
Other than these issues, the authors have revised the manuscript with attentiveness and also provided
reasonable limitations that need to be addressed in future trials on the same issue.
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
Yes
Does the work include the necessary controls?
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.
No
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
Unable to assess
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an additional
statistical review?
If  an  additional  statistical  review  is  recommended,  please  specify  what  aspects  require  further
assessment in your comments to the editors.
I am able to assess the statistics
Quality of written English
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:
Needs some language corrections before being published
Declaration of competing interests
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None
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