Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: studies of the incidence and clinical and laboratory chemical parameters
Höring, E.; Kubin, S.; von Gaisberg, U.
Zeitschrift für Gastroenterologie 28(7): 339-342
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0044-2771 PMID: 2238763 Document Number: 349138
In a prospective study on 151 patients with cirrhosis of the liver we found 9 episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in 8 patients (5.3% of the whole population or 18% of the ascitic patients). There was a clear difference in WBC-count, polymorphonuclear cell count, LDH and lactate in the ascitic fluid between SBP and controls. Clinical symptoms were discrete. 6 of 8 patients had an advanced form of cirrhosis belonging to Child-grade C. Half of patients died. The clinical situation of the 4 survivors improved after antibiotic treatment. Ascitic analysis of WBC and PMC-count in combination with LDH and lactate may reveal SBP as the reason of fever or clinical impairment in cirrhotics.