Relation between Serum Zinc Level and Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis and Ascites

Abstract

mong members of patients suffering from liver cirrhosis and ascites with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, serum zinc level have attracted much attention as being markedly decreased in such patients (Lowe, 2016). Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace element with many physiological functions, for example, in the immune system and during wound healing and growth. Many authors have examined the roles of serum Zn in critically ill patients, and deficiencies in such element have been associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis. Zinc is a coenzyme in many important reactions during the immune response. Phagocyte and lymphocyte activity are impaired or completely suppressed in zinc deficiency, resulting in weakened cytokine and antibody responses (Jang et al., 2014). Zn deficiency was noticed in many studies to be decreased in subjects with many liver diseases specially those with hepatitis C-related liver disease when compared with other etiologies of cirrhosis (Mangray et al., 2015). So, our study aimed to be directed for patients suffering liver cirrhosis and ascites. patients group was divided as follow