title: Selective intestinal decontamination in patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis and low-protein ascites.
abstract: Selective intestinal decontamination (SID) for 7 days with norfloxacin (NF) was performed in 15 patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis (SHF) and low-protein ascites. Changes in ascitic fluid (AF) opsonic activity and complement3 (C3), complement4 (C4), total protein (TP) and albumin concentrations after NF therapy were compared with those of a control group composed of 15 untreated patients with similar characteristics. After oral NF administration, the mean % changes of AF opsonic activity & AF C3 & TP concentrations showed significant increases and were significantly higher than those in the control group. There were direct correlations between mean % changes in AF opsonic activity and C3 concentrations (r = 0.62). AF opsonic activity and TP concentrations (r = 0.54) and AF C3 and TP concentrations (r = 0.57) in the NF group. On the other hand, the AF C4 and albumin concentrations were not significantly changed in any group at the end of the study. Based on the results of the present study, it can be concluded that short-term NF therapy in patients with SHF and low-protein ascites increased AF opsonic activity and AF C3 and TP concentrations and hence, AF bactericidal activity. Study of larger numbers of patients for longer periods will determine if these beneficial effects on NF translate into a decreased incidence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with chronic liver disease and high-risk of infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine (Hepatobiliary Unit), Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: el Aggan
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: el-Aggan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abou Seif Helmy
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Guirguis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001201:Ascites / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D009643:Norfloxacin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000517:prevention & control; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D009643:Norfloxacin