Non-invasive serum markers at admission in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Patients with liver cirrhosis are prone to bacterial infections, particularly spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). Previous studies evaluating the usefulness of non-invasive markers in predicting survival in SBP patients have yielded heterogeneous results.

To assess the utility of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), MELD-Na score, and serum lactate as non-invasive markers for predicting 28-day survival in patients with SBP.

This study employed a descriptive and retrospective design. The optimal cut-off values for MELD-Na, serum lactate, and NLR to predict 28-day mortality and survival were determined using ROC curves. We analyzed the relation of these markers to the presence of acute kidney injury.

We included 74 patients with a first episode of SBP. The median age was 55 years. The optimal NLR cut-off to predict mortality was ≥ 9.68, MELD-Na ≥ 27.5, and serum lactate ≥ 3.35. For predicting acute kidney injury, the optimal values were NLR ≥ 9.2 and MELD-Na ≥ 25.

MELD-Na, NLR, and serum lactate are easily accessible serum markers that may support the prediction of short-term survival.