Background: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a common and potentially lethal complication of decompensated cirrhosis. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a protein produced by mesenchymal cells, and regulated by different physiological and pathological conditions e.g pregnancy, aging and infections. Objective: This study evaluated ascitic HGF as a local marker in diagnosis of SBP. Methodology: Eighty cirrhotic ascitic patients were divided equally into 40 patients with SBP and 40 without. All involved patients were subjected to assay of ascitic HGF using ELISA technique. Results: Ascitic HGF was significantly related to SBP (P=0.000). The sensitivity and specificity of HGF for differentiating SBP were 80 and 82.5%, respectively, at a cut-off value of 2981.34 pg/ml. There was a significant positive correlation between ascitic HGF and TLC (P=0.018), and transaminases; AST and ALT (P =0.007 and P=0.023 respectively). Conclusion: Ascitic HGF is a reliable minimally invasive biomarker for diagnosis of SBP in cirrhotic patients.