Background and study aim: The aim of the current study is to assess the role of interferon gamma-induced protein 10 kDa (IP-10) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in diagnosing spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP).
Patients and Methods: This study was conducted on cirrhotic patients with ascites who were referred to the hospital for paracentesis. Patients were categorized into SBP (n=45) and non-SBP groups (n=45) with exclusion of secondary peritonitis. Measurement of ascitic fluid CRP and ascitic fluid IP-10 was done using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits.
Results: SBP group included 32 men and 13 women while non-SBP group included 26 men and 19 women. Mean age in SBP patients was 60.53 ± 9.08 years while in non-SBP patients was 62.62 ± 8.76 years. Ascitic fluid CRP and IP-10 levels were significantly higher in SBP patients than in non-SBP patients (1.45 ± 0.16 vs. 1.08 ± 0.2 mg/L; P Conclusion: Ascitic fluid levels of CRP and IP-10 seem to represent satisfactory adjunction in diagnosis of SBP.