The core of the proposal is a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, controlled study which will compare the efficacy of dextran 70 versus human albumin in the treatment of cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). Because dextran 70, which is FDA approved for plasma volume expansion, is significantly less expensive than human albumin, this study is designed and powered to determine if dextran 70 is equivalent in clinical efficacy when compared to albumin.