title: Study on ascitic fluid complement 3 level in cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and without spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ascitic fluid Complement 3 (C3) concentration is the most important factor to offer local defense against infection of ascitic fluid. Hepatic synthesis of Complement 3 and its concentration in ascitic fluid is significantly reduced in patients with advanced cirrhosis. The aim of the study was to assess the level of Complement 3 in ascitic fluid in cirrhotic patients with and without spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) and to identify the group of cirrhotic ascites at risk of developing
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective case control study was carried out to compare the level of ascitic fluid Complement 3 concentration in patients with SBP (case-group) and without SBP (control-group). Ascitic fluid Complement 3 level was estimated in 15 patients with SBP (case) and another 15 patients without SBP (control).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the study, ascitic fluid Complement 3 concentration was 7.3+/-4.3 mg/dL in patients with SBP and 16.4+/-11.3 mg/dL in patients who did not develop SBP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ascitic fluid Complement 3 level is significantly (P=0.009) reduced in cirrhotic patients who develop SBP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Shahbag, Dhaka, Bangladesh. m_golam@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Golam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: Mobin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Khorshed
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: Salimur
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Nooruddin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Shahinul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: Sharmeen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3