OBJECTIVE To investigate clinical characteristics of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis(SBP) in patients with severe type of viral hepatitis.METHODS A retrospective review of 120 cases of SBP associated with severe type of viral hepatitis was performed.RESULTS Clinical manifestations were as follows:fever 85.0%,abdominal tenderness 51.6%. 63.3% of the total white blood cells count in the ascitic fluid under 0.5×109／L,85.0% of polymorphonuclear cell ratio above 0.50.The positive culture of the ascitic fluid 24.2%,whereas 42.9% of the isolated microorganisms were Escherichia coli.CONCLUSIONS Clinical manifestations in SBP may be non-specific or absent.The total white blood cells count in the ascitic fluid are often under criteria for diagnosis.E.coli was the most common culture isolate.PMN ratio is the reliable parameter for the diagnosis of SBP.