Assessment of diagnostic accuracy of ascetic fluid lactoferrin In diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Abstract

Background: Liver cirrhosis is the end stage of liver damage brought on by a variety of chronic liver disorders. An acute infection of ascites is referred to as "spontaneous bacterial peritonitis" which is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen without a definitive source of infection. Aim of work is to assess the diagnostic accuracy of ascetic fluid lactoferrin in ‎diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.‎ Subjects and methods Our diagnostic study was conducted upon all consecutive cirrhotic patients with ascites admitted to Endemic and Infectious department, Suez Canal University Hospital in the period from September 2022 till August 2023. This study included 80 cases. They were classified into two groups. Group I included patients with cirrhotic ascites without SBP while Group II included patients with cirrhotic ascites with SBP. All patients were subjected to full history tacking, complete clinical examination and routine laboratory testing including ascetic fluid analysis. Ascitic fluid culture was also done to detect bacterial growth. In addition, we measured the ascetic fluid lactoferrin. Results: ascetic fluid Lactoferrin level was higher in SBP group than non SBP groups, with positive correlation with polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Ascetic fluid lactoferrin at cut off value 98 ng\ml had 93% sensitivity, 75% specificity, 80% positive predictive value, 91% negative predictive value, 84% accuracy in diagnosis of SBP, likelihood ration 3.72. Conclusion: Patients with SBP had higher amounts of ascetic fluid Lactoferrin than non-SBP patients. Ascetic fluid lactoferrin is considered potential and useful biomarker in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis diagnosis.