Study of platelet indices in cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Abstract

Background Ascites are a pathological collection of fluid within the peritoneal cavity and the most common complication of liver cirrhosis. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is an infection that develops in cirrhotic ascitic patients. Platelets release prothrombotic and proinflammatory agents and participate in the induction and advancement of vascular and inflammatory disorders. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate platelet indices as noninvasive predictors for the diagnosis of SBP in cirrhotic patients. Patients and methods Patients were divided into the following groups: group I included 52 cirrhotic ascitic patients with SBP; group II included 34 cirrhotic ascitic patients without SBP; group III (the control group) included 20 healthy individuals. A complete blood count analysis was carried out using the Erma PCE-210 hematology analyzer. Platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet distribution width (PDW) of all the participating patients were determined. Results In this study, there were differences in MPV and PDW between the three groups. MPV showed a significant increase in SBP in comparison with ascitic patients and control participants (11.39±1.08, 10.39±1.32, and 9.47±1.29 fl, respectively), with a P value of less than 0.001. Similarly, the PDW was greater in SBP patients compared with those in groups II and III, but with no significant difference (14.14±2.01, 13.96±3.58, and 12.90±3.13, respectively). Conclusion MPV measurement is an inexpensive, fast, and easy to use test that can predict the development of SBP in cirrhotic ascitic patients.