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Zinc deficiency correlates to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with cirrhotic ascites

The Egyptian Journal of Internal Medicine volume 31, pages 73–77 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Zinc deficiency in patients with liver cirrhosis has been frequently studied. Although spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is one of the most serious complications of liver cirrhosis, few studies addressed the relationship between zinc deficiency and SBP.

Aim

This study aims to detect the effect of zinc deficiency in the development of SBP in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Patients and methods

The current study included 306 patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites who underwent diagnostic paracentesis for exclusion of SBP during admission to the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Ain Shams University Hospital, Egypt. Of these, 79 patients diagnosed with SBP by means of ascitic fluid polymorph nuclear leukocytic count more than or equal to 250 cells/mm3 were assigned to group 1. The remaining 227 patients with cirrhotic ascites were assigned to group 2. Routine laboratory tests, in addition to, serum zinc concentrations were assessed in all patients.

Results

Patients with SBP showed lower serum zinc in comparison to patients with cirrhotic ascites (49.11±11.84 vs. 79.27±9.58 μg/dl) with a statistically significant difference between the two study groups (P<0.001).

Conclusion

Zinc deficiency might be related to the development of SBP in patients with cirrhotic ascites.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Internal Medicine Department, Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Cairo, Egypt

    Michel A. Hanna

  2. Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

    Mohamed H. A. Fouad MD, MRCP (UK) & Ahmed M. ElGhandour

  3. Clinical Pathology Department, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

    Heba H. Ali

Authors
  1. Michel A. Hanna
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  2. Mohamed H. A. Fouad MD, MRCP (UK)
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  3. Ahmed M. ElGhandour
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  4. Heba H. Ali
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohamed H. A. Fouad MD, MRCP (UK).

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Hanna, M.A., Fouad, M.H.A., ElGhandour, A.M. et al. Zinc deficiency correlates to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with cirrhotic ascites. Egypt J Intern Med 31, 73–77 (2019). https://doi.org/10.4103/ejim.ejim_49_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ejim.ejim_49_18

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