Serial Ascitic Fluid Analysis – Prognostic Marker for Adverse Outcome in Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis in Liver Cirrhosis?
Journal Title: Journal of Advances in Internal Medicine - Year 2015, Vol 4, Issue 1
Abstract
Background and Aims: Cirrhosis is a frequent cause of hospital admissions in Nepal with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) being a major determinant of mortality. Limited diagnostic options preclude early risk stratification to improve patient outcomes. We assessed the predictive value of polymorphonuclear leukocyte counts (PMNs) and its association with mortality in hospitalized SBP patients. Methods: We examined 51 cirrhotic patients diagnosed with SBP in a prospective case-control study admitted to a Nepali tertiary care facility from February 2010 to November 2012. Serial paracentesis and ascitic fluid analysis were performed at admission, 24, and 48 hours. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, repeated measures analysis of variance, and logistic regression evaluated ascitic PMNs as predictors of mortality. Results: Deceased patients demonstrated significantly elevated mean circulating and ascitic PMNs. Ascitic PMNs in the non-survivors were significantly elevated upon admission and at 24 and 48 hours. These differences were significant based on absolute counts, relative differences and trends across time. ROC curves provided diagnostic thresholds (1600, 860, 500 cells/mm3) distinguishing the two groups upon presentation, at 24 and 48 hours respectively, with high sensitivities (100%), specificities (82.5-97.5%), and positive predictive values (52.4-84.6%). After adjusting for age and case severity, there was a 9.1-fold greater odds of mortality upon admission, for every increase of 500 ascitic PMNs. Conclusion: In this study of cirrhotic patients with SBP, in-hospital mortality was associated with persistently elevated ascitic PMNs. Ascites PMN thresholds offer a quick, low-tech option to risk stratify patients, prognosticate mortality.
Authors and Affiliations
Rahul Pathak| Department of Gastroenterology, IOM;Kathmandu, Nepal, 1Annette Von Thun| Preventive Medicine Resident, Medical Corps, United States Navy;Kathmandu, Nepal, Kumar Vikram Singh| MD resident, Department of Internal Medicine, IOM;Kathmandu, Nepal, Prem Khadga| Professor and Head of Department of Gastroenterology, IOM;Kathmandu, Nepal, Shashi Sharma| Professor and Head of Department of Internal Medicine, IOM,Kathmandu, Nepal
Expressions of HPV 16-E6 in esophageal carcinoma and its clinical significance
Aim: The aim of the study was to explore the association between HPV16-E6 protein and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: SP immunohistochemical method was used to examine the expression of HPV 16-E6 in 50 cases...
Metastatic nodular pneumonia due to septic embolism: a Staphylococcal infection
Ill-defined lung nodules mimicking secondary metastasis caused by Staphylococcus aureus though defined, is uncommon. We report a 58 years male with chest pain, dry cough, fever and abscess over the nape of neck. Bilatera...
Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection, its correlation with gastroduodenal diseases and the incidence of gastric cancer in Nepal
Background and aims: The Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) prevalence in Asian countries is highly variable, with higher seroprevalence shown in the previous studies of developing Asian countries. We aimed to determine the...
Epidemiology, Biology, and Outcome in Multiple Myeloma Patients in different Geographical Areas of the World
Multiple myeloma has an incidence rate of 102,000 and death rate of 72,000 people per year worldwide. The incidence varies by ethnicity with highest rates observed in African Americans followed by people from industriali...
EFFECT OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC SOURCES OF NITROGEN ON GROWTH AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.)
A field experiment was carried out to study growth and yield response of maize (Zea mays L.) to organic and inorganic sources of nitrogen . Two maize varieties namely Azad-22 and Azad-28 were fertilized with farm yard ma...