title: Study on ascitic fluid protein level in cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.
abstract: Complement 3 is an important component of ascitic fluid total protein, which offers local defence against infection of the ascitic fluid. Hepatic synthesis of complement 3 as well as other proteins and their concentrations in ascitic fluid is significantly reduced in patients with advanced cirrhosis. The level of protein in ascitic fluid in cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis was compared with that in patients without spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Ascitic fluid protein level in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (n=15) was 1.1 +/- 0.3 g/dL whereas it was 1.5 +/- 0.5 g/dL in patients without spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (n=15). In conclusion, this study suggests that, ascitic fluid protein level is significantly (p = 0.008) reduced in cirrhotic patients who develop spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. m_golam@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M Golam
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: M Ayub
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Al Mamun
authors.forename: A K M Khorshed
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Alam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology; D001459:Bangladesh; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins