Abstract
We determined MELD scores in patients of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) with liver cirrhosis. All patients (n=85) had MELD scores on the basis of laboratory values of serum creatinine, serum bilirubin and PT/INR (Prothrombin Time/International Normalized Ratio). MELD scores were calculated according to the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) method. The 73 (85.88%) patients presented with abdominal pain, 64 (73%) patients with fever, 25 (29%) patients with encephalopathy and 13 were having dyspnea (15.29%). The 49 (57.65%) patients had paracentesis in the past. Among 85 patients, 51 (60%) were having ascites for one year and 24 (28%) patients for more than one year. Serology for viral markers showed that 68 (80%) patients were positive for anti-HCV antibodies and 8 (9.4%) patients were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen while, 3 (3.5%) patients were positive for both B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibodies. In the remaining 6 patients, 2 (2.35%) patients were due to alcoholic cirrhosis and in 4 (4.7%) patients, viral markers were negative. The 32 (37.64%) patients had a MELD score in the range of 21-25, 20 (23.52%) patients had scores of 26-30, while only 10 (11.76%) patients had MELD score > 30. Through MELD score that SBP is more associated with male patients (61%) compared to (39%) female patients. Overall, among all 85 patients, the 77 (90.59 %) patients had a high MELD score (?16) and 8 (9.41 %) patients had a low MELD score. Therefore, in patients with liver cirrhosis who had SBP, the MELD score is found higher.
