Low ascites levels of cell membrane-derived microparticles indicate worse short-term prognosis in patients with decompensated cirrhosis

Background: Microparticles (MP) are small vesicles (< 1 µm) that are derived from cells after stress or cellular activation. Plasma MP levels have recently been associated with disease severity and outcome of patients with liver failure. We here retrospectively evaluated the prognostic value and clinical relevance of MP levels in the ascites fluid (AF) of patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. Material and methods: AF samples of 163 cirrhotic patients (index paracentesis n = 163 were collected between February 2011 and December 2012 and stored at 20 °C. MP were isolated from AF samples of index paracentesi…