EVALUATION OF SERUM INTERLEUKIN-6 LEVEL IN SUPPORTING THE DIAGNOSIS OF SPONTANEOUS BACTERIAL PERITONITIS IN PATIENTS WITH DECOMPENSATED CIRRHOSIS
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Abstract
Background: Decompensated cirrhosis is commonly complicated by spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), which increases the risk of multi-organ failure and mortality. The diagnosis of SBP currently relies primarily on an absolute ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear neutrophil count of ≥250 cells/mm³, which is considered the definitive diagnostic criterion. However, early identification of inflammatory activity in ascitic fluid remains clinically challenging, particularly in patients with atypical clinical manifestations. Serum Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in systemic inflammatory responses and may be elevated in the setting of infection. Therefore, serum IL-6 may serve as a biomarker to support the diagnosis of SBP in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Objectives: 1) To describe serum IL-6 level in patients with decompensated cirrhosis; 2) To evaluate the predictive value of serum IL-6 for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Materials and methods: A crosssectional descriptive study was conducted in 35 patients diagnosed with decompensated cirrhosis at the Department of General Internal Medicine, Tay Ninh General Hospital, from 5/2025 to 2/2026. Results: The prevalence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) was 37.1%. The male-to-female ratio was approximately equal. The mean age of the patients was 53.9 ± 13.1 years. The median serum IL-6 level was significantly higher in the SBP group compared with the non-SBP group (181 pg/mL vs. 48.4 pg/mL; p = 0.007). Serum IL-6 concentration showed a fairly good predictive value for SBP, with an AUC of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.61–0.94). At the cut-off value of 69.4 pg/mL, IL-6 had a sensitivity of 84.6%, specificity of 68.2%, positive predictive value of 61.1%, and negative predictive value of 88.2%. Conclusion: Serum IL-6 had a fairly good supportive diagnostic value for SBP in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.
Keywords
Serum IL-6, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, decompensated cirrhosis
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References
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