Aim: To investigate a genetic polymorphism of the monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) gene in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP).
Methods: MCP-1 genotyping was performed in 23 patients with SBP and 83 cirrhotic control patients with non-infected ascites.
Results: The frequency of carriers of the G-allele was lower in SBP patients but this difference did not reach statistical significance. However, in the subgroup of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (n = 80), carriers of the G-allele were significantly less frequent in SBP-patients (38.1%) than in cirrhotic controls (67.8%, P = 0.021).
Conclusion: In patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, the -2518 MCP-1 genotype AA is a risk factor for the development of SBP.