Cultures are positive in about 50% of patients suspected to have infection. Early diagnosis and treatment reduces mortality. Neutrophils AUY-922 supplier play an important role in the innate immune response to infection through CD 64 which is a receptor on the surface of neutrophils. Flow cytometry for immunological markers may be superior to cultures
in diagnosing infection. Since results of flow cytometry are available well before culture results, the aims of this study were to determine if infections may be detected using immunological markers. Methods: In a prospective study, hospitalized cirrhotics were evaluated within 24 hours of admission. Blood, urine and ascitic fluid cultures were drawn; blood was also drawn for multiparametric flow cytometry for potential immunological markers. There were two control groups: unin-fected outpatients with compensated cirrhosis (n=13 ); and a group of healthy subjects (n=23). Data were analyzed using SAS version 9. Results: 19 patients were included; 8 (mean age 57.9; 62.5% male (M); MELD 27 ±11; etiology: 50% NASH;
37.5% alcoholic liver disease (ALD); and other etiologies) had culture positive infection and 11 patients (mean age 52.5; EPZ-6438 solubility dmso 54.5% M; MELD 18±7.etiology: 55% ALD; 27% viral hepatitis (VH); 9.1% NASH; and other etiologies) had no infection. The control group of out-patient cirrhotics had mean age 59.5, 54% M; MELD 14.±6 and etiology 46% ALD; 23% VH; 23 % PBC and other etiologies. Neutrophil CD64 expression (molecules per cell) was the most promising immunolog-ical marker and was significantly higher in septic cirrhotics than uninfected in-patient cirrhotics, outpatient cirrhotics, and normal population (4256.5
vs 784.2 vs 677.2 and 453.9, p value = 0.0002) (Table 1). Conclusions: Cirrhotic patients with infection had CD64expression >1500/ MCE neutrophils were infected. Since these results may be obtained within 12 hours and well before conventional bacterial cultures, neutrophil CD64 expression may be used for early diagnosis of bacterial infection. Disclosures: The following people have nothing to disclose: Sakkarin Chirapongsathorn, Jody C. Olson, Stacy C. League, Siddharth Singh, Sarah Jenkins, Roshini Abraham, Patrick Kamath Background and aims Survival rates for patients admitted to general intensive care units (ICUs) have improved significantly over the last two decades with an expectation that the majority will now survive to hospital discharge. Patients with cirrhosis have had higher mortality rates but any improvements in survival over recent years have not been quantified.