title: The clinical value of ascitic fluid culture and leukocyte count studies in alcoholic cirrhosis.
abstract: Because of the paucity of studies establishing the accepted leukocyte count is sterile ascites, less than 300 WBC per mm3 with 25% polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes, peritoneal fluid WBC counts and bacterial cultures were studied in 63 consecutive hospitalized patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and ascities. In 58 culture-negative patients the ascitic fluid WBC count range was 28 to 1800 and 50% of counts were greater than 300 WBC per mm3. The percentage of PMN leukocytes ranged from 2 to 98%. Five patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), proven by positive cultures, had an ascitic WBC count range of 300 to 6320 WBC per mm3 and a PMN leukocyte range of 20 to 76%. Physical findings did not allow clear separation of the two groups. Anaerobic organisms were not found. It is concluded: (1) differentiation of SBP from sterile ascities relies on prompt ascitic fluid bacteriology; (2) the improved survival of 40% of SBP patients in this study may be related to an increased awareness of the entity and early treatment.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D001201:Ascites / Q000175:diagnosis; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000166:cytology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies