Objective: Spontaneous ascitic fluid infection (SAI) is one of the frequent and important complication of decompensated cirrhosis with high mortality. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a parameter that shows the activity, stimulation and production of platelets. Changes in MPV are important indicators of platelet production, and are also an indicator of the severity of many diseases, such as sepsis, thrombosis, or even respiratory distress syndrome. In our study, we aimed to analyze the

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... between spontaneous ascites infection and mean platelet volume. Methods: 98 cirrhosis patients (42 females, 56 males) with various etiologies were participated to the study. The patients were divided into two groups as SAI positive group including patients with ascitic culture positive and/or ascites polymorphonuclear leukocyte count (PMNL) >250 mm 3 and SAI negative group including patients with no bacterial reproduction in their ascites fluid culture and ascites PMNL count <250 mm 3 . Results: There were 52 patients as 19 females and 33 males, in SAI positive group and 46 patients as 23 females and 23 males, in SAI negative group. In spontaneous ascites infectionpositive group, spontaneous ascites infection mean platelet volume (p<0.001) and leukocyte count (WBC) (p<0.001) were detected to be significantly different statistically compared to the negative group. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean platelet volume (p=0.795) and platelet distribution percentage (p=0.775) in SAI positive patients (p>0.05). Conclusion: Mean platelet volume in patients with spontaneous ascites infection who have developed, decompensated cirrhosis significantly increases. It is possible to use this test which is cheap, non-invasive and fast in the early diagnosis and treatment to follow-up of spontaneous ascites infection.