Diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin level in the diagnosis of the spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Abstract

Introduction: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is an infectious ascitic fluid with an unknown intraabdominal source. Rapid diagnosis of infection can improve prognosis in cirrhotic patients. Objectives: We aim to determine the diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in SBP. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we included 120 cirrhotic patients with possible diagnosis of SBP asities. Serum and ascitic fluid samples were taken from the patient before initiating antibiotics. The ascitic fluid parameters, serum levels of CRP, PCT and white blood cells were measured and the diagnostic value of the CRP and PCT were evaluated. Results: Of 120 patients, 59.16% had confirmed SBP. PCT with a cutoff of 0.8 ng/mL and CRP with cutoff of 10.5 mg/L had a sensitivity of 90.91% and 86.11% and specificity of 91.5% and 81.25% respectively in diagnosing of SBP. Considering PCT above 0.8 ng/mL and CRP above 10.5 mg/L both, they had the sensitivity and specificity of 96.87% and 83.92% in detecting SBP in cirrhotic patients. Conclusion: Serum PCT and CRP levels could predict SBP in cirrhotic patients while PCT had the most sensitivity and specificity. Considering both parameters, the sensitivity will increase, but the specificity is decreasing. Both PCT and CRP levels could be used as a less invasive method compared to ascites fluid analysis in diagnosing SBP.