Serial analysis of serum and ascitic fluid levels of soluble adhesion molecules and chemokines in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

The aim of this work was the evaluation of serum and ascitic fluid levels o f chemokines (IL-8, growth-regulated oncogene (Gro-alpha), and monocyte che motactic protein-1 (MCP-1)), and of soluble adhesion molecules (P-selectin, E-selectin, l-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vas cular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1)) in patients with spontaneous bacte rial peritonitis (SBP). These compounds were serially analysed in serum and ascitic fluid by ELISA in patients with SBP (n = 20), non-infected cirrhot ic controls (n = 12), and healthy controls (n = 15). Infected and non-infec ted cirrhotic patients showed significantly higher serum levels of adhesion molecules. SBP was associated with significantly higher serum and ascitic fluid levels of IL-8, Gro-alpha and ICAM-1 and with ascitic fluid concentra tions of MCP-1. Significantly elevated serum levels of both ICAM-1 and VCAM -1 were detected in patient non-survivors after SBP. Thus, higher ascitic f luid levels of chemokines could be implicated in the peritoneal infiltrate in patients with SBP. Prognostic significance can be attributed to serum le vels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in these patients.