Evaluation of diagnostic accuracy of C-Reactive protein as a biomarker of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients having decompensated chronic liver disease

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of C Reactive Protein (CRP) in diagnosing spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in patients with decompensated chronic liver disease. Study Design: Cross Sectional study. Setting: Department of Medicine Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Hospital Rawalakot Azad Kashmir. Period: Feb 2018 to Dec 2018. Material & Methods: One hundred subjects with decompensated liver disease were recruited in this study after fulfilling inclusion criteria. The patients’ medical record number, age and gender was recorded upon admission. Baseline investigations including complete blood count, urine examination and chest X ray were done. Abdominal ultrasound was performed for detecting the presence of ascitic fluid. SBP was diagnosed if > 250 mm3 neutrophils are detected in the ascitic fluid. Serum CRP was detected and reported in mg/L. Results: SBP was detected in 32.8% of the patients having decompensated chronic liver disease. CRP levels were > 29.5mg/L in 36% of the patients while in 64% patients the CRP levels were < 29.5mg/L. The sensitivity of CRP for the diagnosis of SBP was calculated as 83.61% while the specificity was calculated as 87.2%. A positive predictive value was estimated as 76.12% and a negative predictive value was 91.59% while the diagnostic accuracy was calculated as 86.02% from the given data. Conclusion: CRP is a reliable diagnostic biomarker for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in subjects having complications of chronic liver disease.