Abstract
Background
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a serious complication in cirrhotic patients with ascites. Without early antibiotic treatment, this complication is associated with a 30-50% mortality rate. Recently we have evaluated the validity and utility of ascitic fluid triggering receptors expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) levels for the diagnosis of SBP.
Patients and Methods
This was a Prospective case control study conducted on 60 patients with chronic liver disease and ascites divided into two group, group 1 (control) 30 patients without SBP and group 2 (SBP) 30 patients, admitted to the Tropical Medicine Department with ascites due to chronic liver disease. All patients were subjected to full history taking and clinical examination full laboratory investigations including complete blood picture liver and renal profiles, C reactive protein, viral markers, abdominal ultrasound, UGI endoscopy and ascitic fluid sampling for biochemical testing, total and differential cell count, microbiological culture and TREM-1 level.
Results
There was high statistical significant difference between the two groups in the base level of TREM-1 in which the mean was 1280 pg/ml (1136.9) with level range between (580---4500pg/ml) in SBP versus mean 129.9 pg/ml (51.9) with level range between (60-250pg/ml) in the control group. Also there was a statistical significant difference in the level of TREM-1 before and after treatment in the SBP patients in which the mean of TREM-1 before treatment was 1280.6 pg/ml (1136.9) with level range between (580-4500pg/ml) versus mean 376.2 pg/ml (78.4) and level range between (260-560 pg/ml) after the treatment.
Conclusion
our data indicate that the measurement of ascitic fluid TREM-1 is rapid, easy and valid test in the diagnosis and follow up of chronic liver disease patients with SBP.