الفهرس 
Role of ascitic fluid complement 3 in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
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Abstract
Ascites is the most common complication in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Patients with cirrhosis and ascites show higher susceptibility to bacterial infections mainly because of the inadequate defense mechanisms. The most frequent and most severe one being spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). Prevalence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients with ascites is as high as 18%, with 40{u2013}70% associated mortality. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is probably related to several impaired defense mechanisms, such as depressed reticuloendothelial system, phagocytic activity, leukocyte dysfunction, reduced serum complement, and low bactericidal activity of ascitic fluid. Ascitic fluid complement 3 (C3) concentration and opsonic activities are important protective factors against SBP. The C3 component of complement tends to be reduced in cirrhosis .Patients with reduced ascitic fluid C3 concentration and reduced opsonic activities have been shown to be predisposed to SBP. In our study, we evaluated the role of ascitic fluid complement 3 (C3) in SBP.This was an analytic case control study on 100 patients which have liver cirrhosis, ascites at the age group of 40 to 75 years old They were 65 males and 35 females. Patients were divided into 2 groups