Objective To evaluate the relationship between ascites polymorphonuclear cell( PMN) count and prognosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis( SBP). Methods We collected the clinical data of 291 cases of patients with SBP ever treated in recent 2 years in our hospital,and cases of secondary or tuberculous bacterial peritonitis,malignant ascites were excluded,together with 40 cases without abdominal paracentesis or with paracentesis failure. Statistical analysis was made based on the clinical data from the re...