RESUMEN
The aim of this study was to determine serum and ascetic fluid vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], tumor necrosis factor- alpha [TNF-alpha], interleukin-6 [IL-6] and endotoxin, in cirrhotic patients and to search for a relationship between them and SBP. This study was performed on 40 cirrhotic patients with SBP, their ages ranged from 35 to 60 years, with mean of 47.5 +/- 11.6 years, 40 cirrhotic patients with non-infected ascites their ages ranged from 22 to 50 years, with mean of 34.5 +/- 6.5 years and 20 healthy control subjects with matched age and sex. From the results obtained it was concluded that VEGF, IL-6, TNF-alpha and endotoxin in the serum and ascetic fluid may become useful markers for diagnosis of SBP and for monitoring the treatment of cirrhotic patients