Analysis of the Risk Factors of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Objective To investigate the risk factors of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in the liver cirrhotic patients with ascites. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 56 patients suffering from liver cirrhosis with ascites from 1998 to 2002. The characteristics of the clinical symsptom, liver function and ascites test of the liver cirrhotic patients with ascites with or without spontaneous bacterial peritonitis were compared. Results The incidence of fever,upper gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage,abdominal pain,constipation in the group with spontaneous peritonitis is significantly higher than those in the group without spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, (P0.05).The frequency of spon taneous bacterial peritonitis is higher in the patients with low albumin of ascites ( ≤ 10 g/L )and high level of bilirubin( 51.3 μmol/L) than those with high albumin of ascites (10 g/L)and low level of bilirubin ( 51.3 μmol/L),P0.01. Conclusion Fever, upper gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage, abdominal pain, constipation, low albumin of ascites ( ≤ 10g/L), and high level of bilirubin are all the risk factors of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.