SPONTANEOUS BACTERIAL PERITONITIS

Frequency of asymptomatic in patients of liver cirrhosis

Abstract

Cirrhosis of liver is a chronic process characterized by structurally abnormal
nodules in the liver, with diffuse generalized increased fibrous tissue in the liver. Spontaneous
bacterial peritonitis(SBP) is a serious complication occurring in 10 to 30% of patients hospitalized
with cirrhotic ascites. Objective: Assess the frequency of SBP in asymptomatic patients of liver
cirrhosis. Study design: Cross sectional study. Setting: Hepatitis clinic medical unit- 1 Services
hospital, Lahore. Duration of study: One year. Sample size: Total 100 patients of cirrhotic
ascites. Results: Ten patients were found to have SBP (10%, 95% CI, 4.1 to15.9) and 90 patients
were found to have no SBP (90%, 95%CI, 84.1 to 95.9). Seven SBP patients (70%) had pyurea
(Fisher’s exact test p- value< 0.01), and abnormal liver function tests (Chi square-value<0.01).
Conclusions: We concluded that 10% of asymptomatic patients with cirrhotic ascites had SBP.
SBP patients had significantly abnormal liver function tests and pyuria.