ABSTRACT
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis [SBP] is a life-threatening complication in patients with liver cirrhosis. Renal failure or multiorgan insufficiency is considered to be the main causes of death in patients with SBP. The aim of this work was the evaluation of serum and ascitic fluid levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1] and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 [VCAM-1] in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. We prospectively studied 18 cirrhotic patients with SBP, 9 cirrhotic ascitic individuals without any evidence of infection as cirrhotic ascitic controls and 10 healthy controls. Serum and ascitic fluid levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were measured and compared. Serum levels of ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 were significantly increased in cirrhotic ascitic patients, either infected or non-infected, compared with healthy controls. SBP was associated with significantly elevated serum and ascitic levels of ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 compared with non-infected cirrhotic ascitic patients. There was also, a significant increase in serum and ascitic levels of ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 in patients with SBP who developed renal failure. A prognostic significance can be attributed to increased serum and ascitic levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in patients with SBP as regard development of renal failure