Abstract:

Objective To explore the clinical value of ascites and plasma procalcitonin examination in early diagnosis of liver cirrhosis with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis(SBP). Methods Totally 69 cirrhotic patients with ascites including 28 patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and 41 patients without spontaneous bacterial peritonitis seen in Beijing Youan Hospital from August, 2014 to January, 2015 were studied. The levels of ascites and plasma procalcitonin of these patients were analyzed. Results The levels of procalcitonin, white blood cell counts in plasma and procalcitonin, white blood cell, polymorphonuclear leucocytes counts in ascites in SBP group were significantly higher than those in the non-SBP group(P<0.01). The procalcitonin levels in ascites and plasma were positively correlated(r=0.877, P<0.01). ROC curve analysis showed that the areas under curve of ascites and plasma procalcitonin were 0.919 and 0.820; meanwhile the best thresholds were 0.415 and 0.746 ng/mL respectively. Conclusion Detections of ascites and plasma procalcitonin have significant value for the early diagnosis of liver cirrhosis patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, it has high sensitivity and specificity, and the diagnostic value of plasma procalcitonin is superior to ascites procalcitonin.

Key words: procalcitonin, liver cirrhosis, ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis