The value of ascitic neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin in decompensated liver cirrhosis with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Background Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is one of the most critical complications of decompensated liver cirrhosis. This study aimed to assess whether ascitic neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin (NGAL), a reliable inflammation biomarker, can be used to detect SBP in decompensated cirrhosis patients and to predict mortality from decompensated cirrhosis‐related SBP. Methods This study included 204 hospitalized patients with ascites of decompensated liver cirrhosis and follow‐up of 28 days. We measured ascitic NGAL levels by the latex‐enhanced immunoturbidimetric method. Simultaneously, we observed the patterns of ascitic NGAL levels in the SBP group after 7 days of anti‐infection treatment with third‐generation cephalosporins. Results The ascitic NGAL levels significantly increased in the SBP group compared with that in the non‐SBP group, 111(83.9, 178) ng/mL vs 48(35.4, 63) ng/mL , P  < .001. Likewise, the ascitic NGAL levels of SBP were higher than non‐SBP with or without renal dysfunction. There was a positive relationship between ascitic NGAL and ascitic polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocyte and a negative relationship between ascitic NGAL and ascitic albumin in the SBP group. An ascitic NGAL cutoff of 108.95 ng/mL was used for predicting a poor prognosis for SBP patients. Ascitic NGAL and the model for end‐stage liver disease score were independent risk factors in decompensated liver cirrhosis patients with SBP through multivariate Cox regression. A dynamic trend of ascitic NGAL in SBP patients was consistent with the clinical prognosis. Conclusion Ascitic NGAL may not only be a biomarker for monitoring SBP but also a predictor for more severe outcomes in decompensated cirrhosis‐related SBP.