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Published on: December 18, 2010

Study on ascitic fluid protein level in cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

M Golam Mustafa1, M Ayub Al Mamun, A K M Khorshed Alam

  • 1Department of Hepatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. m_golam@yahoo.com

Bangladesh Medical Research Council Bulletin
|February 4, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Ascitic fluid protein levels are significantly lower in cirrhotic patients who develop spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. This finding highlights a key difference in protein concentration during infection in advanced liver disease patients.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Hepatology
  • Clinical Chemistry

Background:

  • Ascitic fluid total protein, including complement 3, is crucial for local defense against infection.
  • Advanced cirrhosis impairs hepatic synthesis of complement 3 and other proteins, reducing their concentration in ascitic fluid.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare ascitic fluid protein levels in cirrhotic patients with and without spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.
  • To investigate the association between ascitic fluid protein concentration and the occurrence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhosis.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of ascitic fluid protein levels.
  • Patient groups included cirrhotic patients with (n=15) and without (n=15) spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Main Results:

  • Ascitic fluid protein level was significantly lower in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (1.1 +/- 0.3 g/dL) compared to those without (1.5 +/- 0.5 g/dL).
  • The difference in protein levels was statistically significant (p = 0.008).

Conclusions:

  • Ascitic fluid protein levels are significantly reduced in cirrhotic patients who develop spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.
  • Lowered ascitic fluid protein may indicate an increased susceptibility to infection in advanced cirrhosis.

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