Rate Of Increased Ascitic Fluid Lactoferrin In Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis In Cirrhotic Patients

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a potentially fatal complication of cirrhotic ascites and is diagnosed when the polymorphonuclear leukocytic (PMN) count in the ascitic fluid ≥ 250 cells/mm³. Manual laboratory counting of ascitic fluid PMN is however labour intensive, results in diagnostic delay and it is not available in all hospitals. Thus, a rapid diagnostic screening test for SBP would be beneficial in this condition.Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein of the transferrin family expressed in most biological fluids and is a major component of the innate immune system. Lactoferrin is a multifunctional protein and appears to have antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities.This study was conducted in clinical Clinical pathology Pathology and tropical Tropical department zagazig Zagazig University Hospital. The diagnosis of liver cirrhosis and ascites was based on clinical, biochemical and ultrasonographic findings.Fivty patients were selected with ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear leukocytic (PMN) count ≥ 250 cells/mm³ and were assigned as group 2 (SBP group).Another group of 20 patients were selected with ascitic fluid PMN count < 250 cells/mm³ and were assigned as group 2 1 (control group)..