Study of some parameters of infection of ascitic fluid in patients with liver cirrhosis

ABSTRACT

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis [SBP] is one of the most serious complications of ascites in patients with liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of ascitic fluid fibronectin, C3 and C4 in patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites. The study was carried out on thirty patients with ascites classified into three groups, group I; 10 patients with SBP, group II; 10 patients with ascites and ascitic fluid total protein more than 1.5 gm/dl and group III 10 patients with ascitic fluid total protein less than 1.5gm/dl. C3 and C4 were measured by nephelometery while fibronectin was measured by radial-immunodiffusion. The mean values of fibronectin [mg/dl] in groups I, I and III were 56.90 +/- 11.29, 78.50 +/- 15.99 and 60.70 +/- 5.86 respectively, C3 [mg/dl] 11.6 +/- 2.87, 22.8 +/- 8.39 and 16.9 +/- 1.28 respectively and C4 [mg/dl] 4.27 +/- 2.13, 7.4 +/- 2.22 and 5.3 +/- 0.3 respectively. There was significant positive correlation between fibronectin in ascitic fluid and C3 and C4 as well as between fibronectin and ascitic fluid total protein. Fibronectin in ascitic fluid can be used as a biochemical risk factor indicator of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis