Abstract
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is not a rare complicaton in cirrhotic patients with ascites. The condition carries a high mortality. This is a report of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis because of nephrotic syndrome in a compensated cirrhotic patient. A percutaneous renal biopsy specimen obtained in April 1983 consisted of hepatic glomerular sclerosis.
A 56-year-old man was admitted to our hospital on December 15 1984 complaining of severe edema. Laboratory data on admission revealed severe nephrotic syndrome, renal insufficiency and liver dysfunction. On the 3rd hospital day, the patient suddenly, developed a high fever with chills and abdomen was protuberant with diffuse tenderness. Abdominal paracentesis showed transdative ascites which contained many neutrophils, culture of ascites fluid grew Pneumococcus. The patient was treated with a large dose of Ampicillin and peritonitis was improved rapidly. Despite apparent clearing of peritonitis, the patient developed incresing renal failure and regular hemodialysis was started. The pathological features of renal biopsy and review of the literature are also discussed.
