Ascitic fluid protein of greater than 2.5 gm per cent in hepatic cirrhosis is usually interpreted as evidence of a superimposed neoplastic or infectious process. Two years' experience of the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Clinical Laboratory were reviewed for patients with uncomplicated hepatic cirrhosis but with high protein ascites. Twenty-one patients with uncomplicated hepatic cirrhosis and an ascitic protein range of 2.6 to 4.1 gm per cent were found. Fourteen of these patients had peritoneoscopic and/or histologic confirmation of normal peritoneum. Five patients were autopsied and 11 followed a mean of 15 months with no cause of high protein ascites found. Ninety-eight consecutive hospital admissions with uncomplicated hepatic cirrhosis and ascites were reviewed to determine the frequency of high protein ascites. Nineteen had ascitic fluid protein greater than 2.5 gm per cent, 12 a protein greater than 3.0. Ascitic fluid protein ranged from 0.1 to 4.3 gm per cent, with a mean of 1.5. High protein ascites is more common in uncomplicated hepatic cirrhosis than has been recognized.