Nucleotide-Binding Oligomerization Domain-Containing Protein 2 Variants in Patients with Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis.

Background: The occurrence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is significantly increased in carriers of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2) variants, suggesting that local immune alterations might be implicated in bacterial translocation (BT).

Aims: We aimed to assess the role of the NOD2 gene in conferring susceptibility to SBP. We also sought to determine whether levels of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, and soluble TNF-α receptor, along with the presence of bacterial DNA (bactDNA) in ascitic fluid, are appropriate markers for BT in patients with liver cirrhosis and SBP.