Coronary thrombosis in acute pancreatitis

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis - The incidence of acute myocardial infarction in the setting of acute pancreatitis is very rare. The recognition of such complex diagnosis may be clinically...     

Early recognition of abdominal compartment syndrome in patients with acute pancreatitis

AIM： To assess the value of widely used clinical scores in the early identification of acute pancreatitis （AP） patients who are likely to suffer from intra-abdominal hypertension （IAH） and abdominal compartment syndrome （ACS）.
METHODS： Patients （η = 44） with AP recruited in this study were divided into two groups （ACS and non-ACS） according to intra-abdominal pressure （IAP） determined by indirect measurement using the transvesical route via Foley bladder catheter. On admission and at regular intervals, the severity of the AP and presence of organ dysfunction were assessed utilizing different multifactorial prognostic systems： Glasgow-Imrie score, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ （APACHE-Ⅱ） score, and Multiorgan Dysfunction Score （MODS）. The diagnostic performance of scores predicting ACS development, cut-off values and specificity and sensitivity were established using receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve analysis.
RESULTS： The incidence of ACS in our study population was 19.35%. IAP at admission in the ACS group was 22.0 （18.5-25.0） mmHg and 9.25 （3.0-12.4） mmHg in the non-ACS group （P 〈 0.01）. Univariate statistical analysis revealed that patients in the ACS group had significantly higher multifactorial clinical scores （APACHE Ⅱ, Glasgow-Imrie and MODS） on admission and higher maximal scores during hospitalization （P 〈 0.01）. ROC curve analysis revealed that APACHE Ⅱ, Glasgow-Imrie, and MODS are valuable tools for early prediction of ACS with high sensitivity and specificity, and that cut-off values are similar to those used for stratification of patients with severe acute pancreatitis （SAP）.
CONCLUSION： IAH and ACS are rare findings in patients with mild AR Based on the results of our study we recommend measuring the IAP in cases when patients present with SAP （APACHE Ⅱ 〉 7; MODS 〉 2 or Glasgow-Imrie score 〉 3）.     

Abdominal compartment syndrome in patients with severe acute pancreatitis in early stage

AIM： To study retrospectively the influence of intra-abdominal hypertension （IAH） and abdominal compartment syndrome （ACS） in patients with early acute pancreatitis （AP） （during the first week after admission） on physiological functions, and the association of the presence of IAH/ACS and outcome.
METHODS： Patients （n = 74） with AP recruited in this study were divided into two groups according to intra-abdominal pressure （IAP） determined by indirect measurement using the transvesical route via Foley bladder catheter during the first week after admission. Patients （n = 44） with IAP ≥ 12 mmHg were assigned in IAH group, and the remaining patients （n = 30） with IAP 〈 12 mmHg in normal IAP group. For analysis of the influence of IAH/ACS on organ function and outcome, the physiological parameters and the occurrence of organ dysfunction during intensive care unit （ICU） stay were recorded, as were the incidences of pancreatic infection and in-hospital mortality.
RESULTS： IAH within the first week after admission was found in 44 patients （59.46%）. Although the APACHE Ⅱ scores on admission and the Ranson scores within 48 h after hospitalization were elevated in IAH patients in early stage, they did not show the statistically significant differences from patients with normal IAP within a week after admission （16.18 ± 3.90 vs 15.70 ± 4.25, P = 0.616; 3.70 ± 0.93 vs 3.47 ± 0.94, P = 0.285, respectively）. ACS in early AP was recorded in 20 patients （27.03%）. During any 24-h period of the first week after admission, the recorded mean IAP correlated significantly with the Marshall score calculated at the same time interval in IAH group （r = 0.635, P 〈 0.001）. Although ACS patients had obvious amelioration in physiological variables within 24 h after decompression, the incidences of pancreatitic infection, septic shock, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome （MODS） and death in the patients with ACS were significantly higher than that in other patients wit     

急性冠状动脉综合征合并肾功能不全的支架术治疗

目的　评估急性冠状动脉 (冠脉 )综合征合并肾功能不全患者经皮腔内支架术的预后。方法　 6 3例急性冠脉综合征合并肾功能不全行冠脉内和或肾动脉支架植入术患者 (肾功能不全组 ) ,随机选取同期 6 3例一般情况匹配 ,肾功能正常行介入治疗患者 (对照组 )。比较两组临床特征、血管造影、支架术及随访情况。结果　肾功能不全组患者血清肌酐水平显著增高 [(177± 31) μmol/L比(98± 2 1) μmol/L ,P <0 0 0 1]、左室射血分数减低 (0 4 5± 0 10比 0 5 0± 0 0 9,P <0 0 5 ) ,冠脉多支病变增多 (84 %比 6 5 % ,P <0 0 5 )且肾动脉狭窄发生率显著增高 (2 7%和 8% ,P <0 0 5 ) ,13例患者在冠脉支架术同时行肾动脉支架术 (比较对照组 2例 ,P <0 0 5 ) ;两组冠脉支架术手术成功率和术中并发症相似 ;随访表明 ,肾功能不全组严重心脏不良事件发生率较高 (13%和 8% ,P =0 38) ,平均血清肌酐水平较术前降低 (177± 31μmol/L和 14 7± 11μmol/L ,P <0 0 5 ) ,9例 (6 9% )肾动脉狭窄患者肾动脉支架术后血清肌酐恢复正常。结论　急性冠脉综合征合并肾功能不全患者冠脉支架术安全、有效 ,2 / 3接受肾动脉支架术患者术后血清肌酐恢复正常。     

急性冠脉综合征患者冠脉病变与临床预后的关系

目的：探讨急性冠脉综合征（ACS）患者不同冠脉病变程度与临床预后的相关性,并分析其影响因素。方法纳入2007年4月～2008年4月解放军总医院确诊的729例ACS患者,按照冠脉造影（CAG）结果分为轻度病变组（冠脉狭窄＜50%且不伴血管闭塞,n=51）和显著病变组（冠脉狭窄≥50%伴或不伴血管闭塞,n=678）,随访终点为主要不良心血管事件（MACE,包括心源性死亡、心绞痛、心肌梗死和心源性休克）,最长随访时限为5年。结果所有患者中位随访时间为4.3年,随访成功率为95.34%（695/729）,其中轻度病变组49例,显著病变组646例。显著病变组MACE发生率高于轻度病变组（32.67%vs.18.37%,P=0.038）,显著病变组在随访期间共有18例（2.79%）患者死亡,轻度病变组无死亡发生,两组生存率有统计学差异（P=0.0016）。Cox多元回归分析显示,糖尿病和年龄均是不良心血管事件的危险预测因子（糖尿病：OR=1.5,95%CI：1.13～2.08,P=0.006;年龄：OR=1.0,95%CI：1.00～1.03,P=0.037）。结论 ACS患者冠脉狭窄越严重则MACE发生率越高,糖尿病是MACE发生的因素。     

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome associated with acute pancreatitis

The Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a polysystemic inherited connective tissue disease characterized by articular laxity, hyperelastic skin, a tendency to excessive bleeding in the presence of minimal trauma, and friability of different tissues. The syndrome is genetically, biochemically and clinically heterogeneous and several well defined subtypes have been identified. We describe a patient with the type II variant of this syndrome who developed acute spontaneous pancreatitis. One brother, among a total of 8 affected siblings in the family, also had symptoms of acute spontaneous pancreatitis. The association of acute spontaneous pancreatitis with the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome has not been previously reported.     

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome associated with acute pancreatitis

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is an inherited connective tissue disease characterized by articular laxity, hyperelastic skin and tissue fragility. The syndrome is genetically, biochemically and clinically heterogeneous and several well-defined subtypes have been identified. We describe a patient with the type IV variant of this syndrome who developed acute spontaneous pancreatitis.     

The Zollinger-Ellison syndrome with acute bleeding pancreatitis

A 44-year-old Japanese man was diagnosed to have Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. His main complaint was anemia due to gastrointestinal bleeding. After performing gastrointestinal endoscopy, duodenal ulcers were found located in the posterior wall of the duodenal bulbus. Three months before presentation, he had undergone surgery at our hospital due to acute bleeding pancreatitis. A case of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome with acute bleeding pancreatitis is rare, and there have so far been few reports of such cases in the English medical literature.     

Low-grade inflammation for predicting severe acute pancreatitis in patients with hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the association between low-grade inflammation (LGI) and the severity of hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 311 patients with HTG-AP who were admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology, Fujian Provincial Hospital between April 2012 and March 2021. Inpatient medical and radiological records were reviewed to collect the clinical manifestations, disease severity, and comorbidities. C-reactive protein (CRP) level, white blood cell (WBC) count, platelet (PLT) count, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were considered LGI components and were combined to calculate a standardized LGI score. The association between the LGI score and the severity of HTG-AP was analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Results

Of the 311 patients with HTG-AP, 47 (15.1%) had mild acute pancreatitis (MAP), 184 (59.2%) had moderately severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP), and 80 (25.7%) had severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), respectively. Patients with MSAP and SAP had a higher LGI score than those with MAP (1.50 vs −6.00, P < 0.001). Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with LGI scores in the fourth quartile were more likely to have MSAP and SAP (odds ratio [OR] 21.925, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.014–95.867, P < 0.001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that low calcium (OR 0.105, 95% CI 0.011–0.969, P = 0.047) and high LGI score (OR 1.253, 95% CI 1.066–1.473, P = 0.006) were associated with MSAP and SAP. When predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis, the LGI score had the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (0.7737) compared to its individual components.

Conclusion

An elevated LGI score was associated with a higher risk of SAP in patients with HTG-AP.     

Gut permeability in patients with acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: The bacterial contamination of pancreatic necrosis in acute pancreatitis is supposed to occur through translocation of intestinal bacteria. Increased gut permeability may be the initial phenomenon in this process. To test the hypothesis that gut permeability is increased in acute pancreatitis a clinical study was made where gut absorption and permeability were assessed with multi-sugar probes in patients with acute pancreatitis within 2 days after admission to hospital and again after recovery of disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-three patients with acute pancreatitis and 20 healthy controls were studied. According to Atlanta classification, 15 patients had mild and 8 patients severe pancreatitis. Gut absorption, assessed as the 5-h urine excretion of L-rhamnose, D-xylose and 3-O-methylglucose, was decreased in patients with acute pancreatitis and more pronounced in patients with severe pancreatitis (L-rhamnose and D-xylose: P < 0.001; 3-O-methylglucose: P < 0.05). Gut permeability, assessed as the ratio of lactulose/L-rhamnose, was increased in severe pancreatitis (0.16 +/- 0.13, 0.07 +/- 0.03, 0.04 +/- 0.04; severe pancreatitis, mild pancreatitis, controls, respectively; P < 0.001 between three groups, P < 0.05 between pancreatitis groups). CONCLUSIONS: Gut absorption capacity is decreased and gut permeability is increased in patients with acute pancreatitis. Patients with severe pancreatitis may be more exposed to impaired gut barrier function.     

Gastrointestinal dysmotility in patients with acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Gut-origin bacterial translocation is one of the major causes of pancreatic necrotic tissue infection in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). The gastrointestinal dysmotility is supposed to be the fundamental event in this process. To test this hypothesis, alteration of colonic transit time (CTT) in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) was investigated. In order to evaluate the possible mechanisms involved in gastrointestinal dysmotility, changes of serum motilin (MTL), cholecystokinin (CCK) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in patients with AP were also measured. METHODS: Twenty-four non-consecutive patients with AP and 25 controls were included in this study. The diagnosis of AP was based upon clinical features, biochemical indices and radiological investigation. The severity of AP at admission was evaluated according to the APACHE-II and Balthazar computed tomography (CT) scoring system. Total and segmental CTT in patients with AP and in controls were determined by ingestion of radiopaque markers (Sitzmarks(R)) according to the modified Metcalf's method. Meanwhile, serum MTL and CCK were assessed using radioimmunoassay (RIA), and serum VIP was measured by using ELISA in this study. RESULTS: Compared to the controls, the total CTT and segmental CTT (mainly right and left hemicolon) were prolonged significantly in 10 patients with SAP and 14 patients with MAP; P < 0.05. Moreover, the total CTT and segmental CTT were markedly more delayed in patients with SAP than in patients with MAP; P < 0.05. The concentrations of serum MTL and CCK were significantly decreased in both MAP and SAP patients compared with those in controls (P < 0.01). There was no significant differences in serum MTL and CCK levels between the SAP and MAP groups; P > 0.05. In addition, the concentration of serum VIP was increased in AP patients, and it reached statistical significance in patients with SAP (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, gastrointestinal dysmotility often occurred in patients with AP, especially more severely in SAP patients. One of the possible mechanisms might be related to the synergic actions of gut hormones, such as MTL, CCK and VIP.     

Immunosuppression in patients with severe acute pancreatitis

Background In severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), immunologic impairment in the early phase may be linked to subsequent infectious complications. In this study, immunologic alterations in patients with SAP were analyzed, and immunologic parameters related to infectious complications were clarified. Methods A total of 101 patients with SAP were analyzed retrospectively. Various immunologic parameters on admission were analyzed and compared between the infection group and noninfection group during SAP. Furthermore, chronologic change in the lymphocyte count was investigated, and its utility for predicting infection was compared with conventional scoring systems. Results Serum immunoglobulin G (IgG), serum IgM, lymphokine-activated killer cell activity, and natural killer cell activity were low, and the incidence of abnormally low values was 50.0%, 65.0%, 45.5%, and 42.4%, respectively. Serum complement factor 3 was significantly negatively correlated with the APACHE II score. The lymphocyte count was decreased below the normal range, and was significantly negatively correlated with the APACHE II score. CD4-, CD8-, and CD20-positive lymphocyte counts were below the normal range, and CD4- and CD8-positive lymphocyte counts were significantly lower in the infection group. The lymphocyte count on day 14 after admission was significantly lower in the infection group and was more useful for predicting infection than conventional scoring systems. Conclusions Immunosuppression occurs from the early phase in SAP, and quantitative impairment of lymphocytes, mainly T lymphocytes, may be closely related to infectious complications during SAP. CD4- and CD8-positive lymphocyte counts on admission and the lymphocyte count on day 14 after admission may be useful for predicting infection.     

Electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients with acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: Electrocardiographic abnormalities may be associated with acute pancreatitis (AP). GOALS: To describe the electrocardiographic disturbances present in patients with AP and to assess differences in electrolyte and pancreatic enzyme levels among patients with and without these abnormalities. STUDY: Fifty-one consecutive patients with AP and without preexisting heart disease underwent a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (EKG) and a serum electrolyte profile. EKG abnormalities were summarized in terms of frequencies, means, and standard deviations. Electrolyte and enzyme levels were summarized as medians. Differences were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients (55%) had an abnormal EKG. Nonspecific changes of repolarization (20%), sinus tachycardia (12%), and left anterior hemiblock (10%) were the most frequent disturbances. Patients with sinus tachycardia had lower levels of phosphorus (2.3 vs. 3.4 mEq/L, P < 0.004) and calcium (8.4 vs. 9.1 mg/dL, P < 0.02). A tendency to higher levels of potassium and lower levels of phosphorus was found in patients with sinus tachycardia and nonspecific changes of repolarization, respectively. No differences were found in amylase, pancreatic amylase, or lipase among patients with normal and abnormal EKG. CONCLUSIONS: More than 50% of the patients with AP had EKG abnormalities, and these changes could be related to electrolyte alterations.     

Immune function in patients with acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between the balance of T-helper (Th)1 and Th2 cytokines, and the numbers of CD4+ T and CD8+ T-cells, and was investigated, together with the plasma concentration of the antigen, an apoptosis marker, in patients with mild and acute pancreatitis (AP). METHODS: Plasma concentrations of soluble (s) CD4, sCD8, sIL-2-R, IL-12, IFN-gamma and sFas antigen were measured by ELISA, and CD4+ T, and CD8+ T lymphocyte counts were measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Both CD4+ T and CD8+ T-cells were reduced in number; in the severe cases the reduction in the former was more pronounced. A significant positive correlation was noted among the concentrations of sCD4, sIL-2-R and IL-12, and a significant positive correlation was also found between sCD4 and sFas. During the early stage of AP, the concentrations of sCD4, sCD8, sIL-2-R, IL-12 and IFN-gamma increased more in the severe cases compared with those who had milder symptoms; however, these increases were moderated during the clinical course. CONCLUSION: We considered that these Th1 type CD4+ T cells probably induce the activation of macrophages and further pro-inflammatory reactions during the early stage of AP, as well as exerting direct cytotoxicity effects through Fas/Fas ligand expression.     

Hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis in a patient with Sheehan''''s syndrome

BACKGROUND: There is no report on case of severe acute hyperlipidemic pancreatitis after treatment of Sheehan's syndrome. METHODS: A 32-year-old female patient was diagnosed as having acute hyperlipidemic pancreatitis after treatment of Sheehan's syndrome, and treated with diet and lipidlowering agents in early stage. RESULTS: Abdominal pain and fever of the patient resolved within a few days. She was subjected to diet and oral lipid-lowering therapy on the 4th day after admission. The disease did not recur during the follow-up for more than one year. CONCLUSIONS: Estrogen replacement therapy should be prescribed for Sheehan's syndrome. The serum level of triglyceride should be monitored and treatment should be given to prevent severe acute pancreatitis. Lipid-lowering therapy in early stage is the key step towards a complete recovery.     

Treatment of abdominal compartment syndrome in severe acute pancreatitis patients with traditional Chinese medicine

AIM： To investigate the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese traditional medicines Da Cheng Qi Decoction （Timely-Purging and Yin-Preserving Decoction） and Glauber＇s salt combined with conservative measures on abdominal compartment syndrome （ACS） in severe acute pancreatitis （SAP） patients.
METHODS： Eighty consecutive SAP patients, admitted for routine non-operative conservative treatment, were randomly divided into study group and control group （40 patients in each group）. Patients in the study group received Da Cheng Qi Decoction enema for 2 h and external use of Glauber＇s salt, once a day for 7 d. Patients in the control group received normal saline （NS） enema. Routine non-operative conservative treatments included non-per os nutrition （NPON）, gastrointestinal decompression, life support, total parenteral nutrition （TPN）, continuous peripancreatic vascular pharmaceutical infusion and drug therapy. Intra-cystic pressure （ICP） of the two groups was measured during treatment. The effectiveness and outcomes of treatment were observed and APACHE Ⅱ scores were applied in analysis.
RESULTS： On days 4 and 5 of treatment, the ICP was lower in the study group than in the control group（P 〈 0.05）. On days 3-5 of treatment, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ （APACHE Ⅱ） scores for the study and control groups were significantly different （P 〈 0.05）. Both the effectiveness and outcome of the treatment with Da Cheng Qi Decoction on abdominalgia, burbulence relief time, ascites quantity, cyst formation rate and hospitalization time were quite different between the two groups （P 〈 0.05）. The mortality rate for the two groups had no significant difference.
CONCLUSION： Da Cheng Qi Decoction enema and external use of Glauber＇s salt combined with routine non-operative conservative treatment can decrease the intra-abdominal pressure （IAP） of SAP patients and have preventive and therapeutic effects on abdominal compartment syndrome o     

Metabolic syndrome and acute pancreatitis

AimThe aim of our study was to investigate the influence of metabolic syndrome on the course of acute pancreatitis determined by disease severity, the presence of local and systemic complications and survival rate.Patients and methods609 patients admitted to our hospital in the period from January 1, 2008 up to June 31, 2015 with the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis were analyzed. The diagnosis and the severity of acute pancreatitis were made according to the revised Atlanta classification criteria from 2012.ResultsOf 609 patients with acute pancreatitis, 110 fulfilled the criteria for metabolic syndrome. Patients with metabolic syndrome had statistically significantly higher incidence of moderately severe (38.2% vs. 28.5%; p = 0.05) and severe (22.7% vs. 12.8%; p = 0.01) acute pancreatitis in comparison to those without metabolic syndrome, while patients without metabolic syndrome had higher incidence of mild acute pancreatitis in comparison to those patients with metabolic syndrome (58.7% vs. 39.1%; p < 0.001). Patients with metabolic syndrome had a higher number of local and systemic complications, and higher APACHE II score in comparison to patients without metabolic syndrome. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, the presence of metabolic syndrome was independently associated with moderately severe and severe acute pancreatitis. Comparing survival rates, patients suffering from metabolic syndrome had a higher death rate compared to patients without metabolic syndrome (16% vs. 4.5%; p < 0.001).ConclusionThe presence of metabolic syndrome at admission portends a higher risk of moderately severe and severe acute pancreatitis, as well as higher mortality rate.