Do we need a computed tomography examination in all patients with acute pancreatitis within 72 h after admission to hospital for the detection of pancreatic necrosis?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective study was to define the role of an initial contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) obtained within 72 h after admission to hospital for determining the prognosis of acute pancreatitis and to investigate whether CT scans can be replaced by conventional prognostic parameters. METHODS: The study involves 231 patients admitted to the Lüneburg clinic with a first attack of acute pancreatitis from 1988 to 1995. In all of them, a contrast-enhanced CT was performed within 72 h of admission and scored according to Balthazar. The results were compared with the Ranson and Imrie laboratory prognostic scores and with parameters of the severity of the disease: the initial organ failure according to the Atlanta classification; days spent on intensive care unit or altogether in hospital; indication for artificial ventilation, dialysis and surgical intervention (necrosectomy); development of pancreatic pseudocysts; and mortality. RESULTS: Although there was a good statistical correlation between Ranson, Imrie, and Balthazar scores with the severity of the disease (P < 0.001 to P = 0.03), low and moderately raised Ranson (0-2, 0-5 points) and Imrie scores (0-1.0-3 points) failed to identify all patients with pancreatic necrosis with sufficient sensitivity rates (31.7; 78.0 and 39.0; 78.0%), positive (32.6; 25.3 and 75.0; 45.0%) and negative (91.0; 87.9 and 85.4; 84.8%) predictive values. CONCLUSIONS: A contrast-enhanced CT on admission correlates significantly with the severity of the disease and cannot be replaced by conventional laboratory prognostic scores. The decision to use a CT cannot depend on the results of the Ranson/Imrie scores.     

Sensory and biomechanical properties of the esophagus in non-erosive reflux disease

Background: The aim of this prospective study was to define the role of an initial contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) obtained within 72 h after admission to hospital for determining the prognosis of acute pancreatitis and to investigate whether CT scans can be replaced by conventional prognostic parameters. Methods: The study involves 231 patients admitted to the Lüneburg clinic with a first attack of acute pancreatitis from 1988 to 1995. In all of them, a contrast-enhanced CT was performed within 72 h of admission and scored according to Balthazar. The results were compared with the Ranson and Imrie laboratory prognostic scores and with parameters of the severity of the disease: the initial organ failure according to the Atlanta classification; days spent on intensive care unit or altogether in hospital; indication for artificial ventilation, dialysis and surgical intervention (necrosectomy); development of pancreatic pseudocysts; and mortality. Results: Although there was a good statistical correlation between Ranson, Imrie, and Balthazar scores with the severity of the disease (P &lt; 0.001 to P = 0.03), low and moderately raised Ranson (0-2, 0-5 points) and Imrie scores (0-1, 0-3 points) failed to identify all patients with pancreatic necrosis with sufficient sensitivity rates (31.7; 78.0 and 39.0; 78.0%), positive (32.6; 25.3 and 75.0; 45.0%) and negative (91.0; 87.9 and 85.4; 84.8%) predictive values. Conclusions: A contrast-enhanced CT on admission correlates significantly with the severity of the disease and cannot be replaced by conventional laboratory prognostic scores. The decision to use a CT cannot depend on the results of the Ranson/Imrie scores.     

Hemoconcentration: an early marker of severe and/or necrotizing pancreatitis? A critical appraisal

OBJECTIVE: A study was designed to reevaluate hemoconcentration as an early marker of severe and/or necrotizing pancreatitis and compare it against contrast-enhanced CT, the gold standard to diagnose acute necrotizing pancreatitis. METHODS: This prospective study covers the years 1988-1999 for 316 patients (202 male, 114 female) with a first attack of acute pancreatitis. The role of the hematocrit as an early marker of severe and/or necrotizing pancreatitis has been retrospectively evaluated against the prospectively obtained data. They all underwent a CT within 72 h after admission. In addition to the CT-controlled diagnosis of interstitial/necrotizing pancreatitis, the following variables were used to assess severity: initial organ failure according to the Atlanta classification; indication for artificial ventilation and/or dialysis; Ranson score adjusted for etiology; Imrie score; Balthazar score; length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU); total hospital stay; development of pancreatic pseudocysts; indication for operation (necrosectomy); and mortality. Hemoconcentration on admission was defined as a hematocrit level >43.0% for male and >39.6% for female patients. Logistic regression was used to assess the correlation between hemoconcentration and the severity of variables. RESULTS: Hematocrit, as a single parameter measured on admission, had the same sensitivity and negative predictive value as the more complicated Ranson and Imrie scores obtained only after 48 h. However, its specificity, positive predictive value, and total accuracy were lower. Hemoconcentration significantly correlated with the Balthazar score (differential diagnosis between interstitial and necrotizing pancreatitis), stay in ICU, and total hospital stay. Sensitivity and specificity of the hematocrit cut-off level of 43.0% for male and 39.6% for female patients to detect necrotizing pancreatitis were 74% and 45%, respectively. The positive predictive value was 24% and the negative predictive value 88%. Receiver operation characteristics (ROC) curve values for several cut-offs did not result in more ideal levels. CONCLUSION: Hemoconcentration does not significantly correlate with important clinical outcome variables of acute pancreatitis including organ failure and mortality rate. Its prognostic value is comparable to the more complicated Ranson and Imrie scores obtained only after 48 h. The major value of this single easily obtainable and cheap parameter on admission lies in its high negative predictive value. In the absence of hemoconcentration, contrast-enhanced CT may be unnecessary on admission unless the patient does not improve.     

Predicting fatal outcome in the early phase of severe acute pancreatitis by using novel prognostic models

Background/Aims: Survival in acute pancreatitis and particularly in severe acute and necrotizing pancreatitis is a combination of therapy-associated and patient-related factors. There are only few relevant methods for predicting fatal outcome in acute pancreatitis. Scores such as Ranson, Imrie, Blamey, and APACHE II are practical in assessing the severity of the disease, but are not sufficiently validated for predicting fatal outcome among patients with severe acute pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to construct a novel prediction model for predicting fatal outcome in the early phase of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and to compare this model with previously reported predictive systems. Methods: Hospital records of 253 patients with SAP were retrospectively analyzed. 234 patients with adequate data were included to the test set to construct five logistic regression and three artificial neural network (ANN) models. Two models were tested in an independent prospective validation set of 60 consecutive patients with SAP and compared with previously reported predictive systems. Results: The prediction model considered optimal was a logistic model with four variables: age, highest serum creatinine value within 60–72 h from primary admission, need for mechanical ventilation, and chronic health status. In the validation set, the predictive accuracy, determined by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve value, was 0.862 for the chosen model, 0.847 for the ANN model using eight variables, 0.817 for APACHE II, 0.781 for multiple organ dysfunction score, 0.655 for Ranson, and 0.536 for Imrie scores. Conclusions: Ranson and Imrie scores are inaccurate indicators of the mortality in SAP. A novel predictive model based on four variables can reach at least the same predictive performance as the APACHE II system with 14 variables.     

Comparison of scoring systems in predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis

AIM:To investigate the prognostic usefulness of several existing scoring systems in predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis(AP).METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed the prospectively collected clinical database from consecutive patients with AP in our institution between January 2011 and December 2012.Ranson,Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation(APACHE)-Ⅱ,and bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis(BISAP)scores,and computed tomography severity index(CTSI)of all patients were calculated.Serum C-reactive protein(CRP)levels were measured at admission(CRPi)and after 24h(CRP24).Severe AP was defined as persistent organ failure for more than 48 h.The predictive accuracy of each scoring system was measured by the area under the receiver-operating curve(AUC).RESULTS:Of 161 patients,21(13%)were classified as severe AP,and 3(1.9%)died.Statistically significant cutoff values for prediction of severe AP were Ranson≥3,BISAP≥2,APACHE-Ⅱ≥8,CTSI≥3,and CRP24≥21.4.AUCs for Ranson,BISAP,APACHE-Ⅱ,CTSI,and CRP24 in predicting severe AP were 0.69(95%CI:0.62-0.76),0.74(95%CI:0.66-0.80),0.78(95%CI:0.70-0.84),0.69(95%CI:0.61-0.76),and0.68(95%CI:0.57-0.78),respectively.APACHE-Ⅱdemonstrated the highest accuracy for prediction of severe AP,however,no statistically significant pairwise differences were observed between APACHE-Ⅱand the other scoring systems,including CRP24.CONCLUSION:Various scoring systems showed similar predictive accuracy for severity of AP.Unique models are needed in order to achieve further improvement of prognostic accuracy.     

Which etiology causes the most severe acute pancreatitis?

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to define the prognostic role of etiology in the course of acute pancreatitis. METHODS: The study involved 208 consecutive patients with a first attack of acute pancreatitis. Etiology was biliary in 81 (39%) patients and alcohol abuse in 69 (33%); other etiologies were present in 16 (8%), and etiology remained unknown in 42 (20%). Etiology was correlated with the following parameters of severity of the disease: days in an intensive care unit (ICU); total hospital stay (THS); Ranson, Imrie, and Balthazar scores (contrast-enhanced computed tomography [CT] within 72 h of admission); indication of artificial ventilation, dialysis, or surgery; development of pancreatic pseudocysts; mortality. RESULTS: Alcoholic etiology correlated significantly more frequently than other subgroups with necrotizing pancreatitis, need for artificial ventilation, and development of pancreatic pseudocysts. For the other parameters, there were no significant differences between the etiologies. CONCLUSION: Patients with alcohol-induced acute pancreatitis should be given special attention because of the higher incidence of necrotizing pancreatitis and necessity for artificial ventilation. Whether the pronounced frequency of pseudocysts in alcoholics suggests progression to chronic pancreatitis has to be clarified in follow-up studies.     

炎症因子联合Ranson评分预测急性胰腺炎严重程度和指导临床治疗的价值分析

目的 探讨炎症因子联合Ranson评分预测急性胰腺炎（AP）严重程度和指导临床治疗的价值。方法 根据2012年Atlanta标准将150例AP患者分为轻度组（50例）、中度组（50例）和重度组（50例），比较各组血清炎症因子[白细胞介素（IL）-6、降钙素原（PCT）、C反应蛋白（CRP）、IL-8、IL-10]水平和Ranson评分，并统计各组病死率，绘制受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线，计算曲线下面积（AUC），比较各指标评估器官功能衰竭和病死率的价值。结果 3组患者发病12h、24h、48h时的PCT、IL-6、CRP逐渐升高，且随着病情严重程度增加而逐渐增高（P＜0.05）；3组患者发病24h时的IL-10水平高于发病12h，但发病48h低于发病24h（P＜0.05）；轻、中、重度组Ranson评分随病情严重程度增加呈递增趋势（P＜0.05）；重度组病死率（16.0%）高于轻度组（0）和中度组（2.0%，P＜0.05）。血清炎症因子中，IL-6评估器官功能衰竭和病死率的AUC＞PCT、CRP；CRP评估胰腺坏死的AUC＞PCT、IL-6；Ranson评分评估器官功能衰竭和病死率的AUC＞PCT、IL-6、CRP；PCT+IL-6+CRP+Ranson评分评估器官功能衰竭、胰腺坏死及病死率AUC均＞Ranson评分及任一血清炎症因子。结论IL-6评估AP患者器官功能衰竭、病死率价值较高，CRP评估胰腺坏死价值较高，PCT、IL-6、CRP与Ranson评分系统联合应用可进一步提高对其器官功能衰竭、胰腺坏死、病死率的预测能力，为临床治疗策略的选择提供参考。     

Which etiology causes the most severe acute pancreatitis?

Summary Background The aim of the study was to define the prognostic role of etiology in the course of acute pancreatitis. Methods The study involved 208 consecutive patients with a first attack of acute pancreatitis. Etiology was biliary in 81 (39%) patients and alcohol abuse in 69 (33%); other etiologies were present in 16 (8%), and etiology remained unknown in 42 (20%). Etiology was correlated with the following parameters of severity of the disease: days in an intensive care unit (ICU); total hospital stay (THS); Ranson, Imrie, and Balthazar scores (contrast-enhanced computed tomography [CT] within 72 h of admission); indication of artificial ventilation, dialysis, or surgery; development of pancreatic pseudocysts; mortality. Results Alcoholic etiology correlated significantly more frequently than other subgroups with necrotizing pancreatitis, need for artificial ventilation, and development of pancreatic pseudocysts. For the other parameters, there were no significant differences between the etiologies. Conclusion Patients with alcohol-induced acute pancreatitis should be given special attention because of the higher incidence of necrotizing pancreatitis and necessity for artificial ventilation. Whether the pronounced frequency of pseudocysts in alcoholics suggests progression to chronic pancreatitis has to be clarified in follow-up studies     

Obesity increases the severity of acute pancreatitis: performance of APACHE-O score and correlation with the inflammatory response.

BACKGROUND: Obese patients appear to be at risk for complications of acute pancreatitis (AP). APACHE-O score has been suggested to improve APACHE-II accuracy in predicting severe outcome in AP. AIMS: To determine if APACHE-O adds any predictive value to APACHE-II score and to test the hypothesis that obese patients are at increased risk of severe AP (SAP) because of a more intense inflammatory response to pancreatic injury. METHODS: 102 AP patients were prospectively studied. Using a body mass index (BMI) >30, 28% of the subjects were obese. Nineteen patients developed organ dysfunction and were classified as SAP. Receiver-operating curves for prediction of SAP were calculated using admission APACHE-II and APACHE-O scores. Binary logistic regression was performed to assess if obesity is a risk for SAP and to determine the clinical factors associated with severe disease. Serum levels of IL-6, MCP-1 and CRP as well as Ranson's scores were compared between obese and non-obese patients. RESULTS: Admission APACHE-O (area under the curve AUC 0.895) and APACHE-II (AUC 0.893) showed similar accuracy in predicting severe outcome. BMI was identified as a significant risk for SAP (OR 2.8, p = 0.048) and mortality (OR 11.2, p = 0.022). CRP levels were significantly higher in obese AP patients (p = 0.0001) as well as Ranson's score (p = 0.021). IL-6 and MCP-1 levels were higher in obese patients but did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity is an independent risk for SAP. Admission APACHE-O score is not more accurate than APACHE-II. Our study results suggest that obesity increases the severity of AP by amplifying the immune response to injury.     

Mechanism of pancreatitis caused by ERCP.

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis can develop after either ERCP or endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES). The pathogenesis of this complication remains poorly understood. METHODS: The frequency and severity of acute pancreatitis were retrospectively evaluated after 17,602 ERCP procedures and 3003 ES procedures. Pancreatitis was diagnosed and evaluated according to the scoring system of Ranson and criteria developed in Japan. RESULTS: Pancreatitis developed after 15 (0.09%) of 17,602 ERCP procedures and 13 (0.43%) of 3003 ES procedures (p = 0.0001, chi-square). The severity of pancreatitis (Ranson score) was less than 3 in 10 cases of ERCP-induced pancreatitis and from 3 to 5 in 5 cases. One (7%) of the 15 patients with ERCP-related pancreatitis died. All 13 patients with ES-induced pancreatitis had a Ranson score of less than 3; none died (p = 0.04, Fisher exact test). The ERCP pancreatitis score (Japanese criteria) beyond 48 hours after the onset of pancreatitis increased in 5 (33%) of the 15 patients with ERCP-induced pancreatitis; the score did not increase in any of the 13 patients with ES-induced pancreatitis (p = 0.04, Fisher exact test). CONCLUSIONS: Although the frequency of ES-induced pancreatitis is significantly higher than that of post-ERCP pancreatitis, the frequency of severe pancreatitis within 48 hours and worsening of pancreatitis after 48 hours is significantly lower with ES-induced pancreatitis. Our hypothesis is that the lowering of pancreatic intraductal pressure after ES mitigates the severity of postprocedure pancreatitis.     

Combination of APACHE-II score and an obesity score (APACHE-O) for the prediction of severe acute pancreatitis

Background: The advent of specific therapeutic or preventive treatments for severe acute pancreatitis creates a need to determine the risk of complications for each individual. Scoring systems used in acute pancreatitis identify groups of patients at risk of complications, but the pancreatitis-specific scores require 48 h of hospital admission to give full information. The APACHE-II score is useful within 24 h, but ignores simple clinical features, such as obesity, known to predict severity. The aim of this study was to evaluate a combination of the APACHE-II score with an obesity score in patients with acute pancreatitis, to predict severity using information available during the first 24 h of hospital admission. Methods: Data were collected prospectively from 186 consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis, to allow calculation of the APACHE-II score and body mass index (BMI). BMI was categorised as normal (score = 0), overweight (BMI 26–30: score = 1), or obese (BMI > 30: score = 2). A logistic regression model was used to identify factors significantly associated with complications (Atlanta criteria; 104 complications in 60 patients). Results: Age, BMI and the acute physiology score independently predicted complications. Addition of the score for obesity to the APACHE-II score gave a composite score (APACHE-O) with greater predictive accuracy. At cut-off of > 8, APACHE-O had sensitivity 82%, specificity 86%, positive predictive value 74%, negative predictive value 91% and overall accuracy 85%. Conclusions: This study confirms that age, obesity and APACHE-II measured in the first 24 h of hospital admission can predict complications in acute pancreatitis. Combination of the APACHE-II and obesity scores by simple addition improved categorical prediction of severity (mild or severe) in patients with acute pancreatitis.     

Evaluation of diagnostic findings and scoring systems in outcome prediction in acute pancreatitis

AIM: To determine factors related to disease severity, mortality and morbidity in acute pancreatitis. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-nine consecutive patients were admitted with the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis (AP) in a 5-year period (1998-2002). In a prospective design, demographic data, etiology, mean hospital admission time, clinical, radiological, biochemical findings, treatment modalities, mortality and morbidity were recorded. Endocrine insuffi ciency was investigated with oral glucose tolerance test. The relations between these parameters, scoring systems (Ranson, Imrie and APACHE Ⅱ) and patients' outcome were determined by using invariable tests and the receiver operating characteristics curve. RESULTS: One hundred patients were men and 99 were women; the mean age was 55 years. Biliary pancreatitis was the most common form, followed by idiopathic pancreatitis (53/ and 26/, respectively). Sixty-three patients had severe pancreatitis and 136 had mild disease. Respiratory rate > 20/min, pulse rate > 90/min, increased C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, organ necrosis > 30/ on computed tomography (CT) and leukocytosis were associated with severe disease. The rate of glucose intolerance, morbidity and mortality were 24.1/, 24.8/ and 13.6/, respectively. CRP > 142 mg/L, BUN > 22 mg/dL, LDH > 667 U/L, base excess > -5, CT severity index > 3 and APACHE score > 8 were related to morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSION: APACHE Ⅱ score, LDH, base excess and CT severity index have prognostic value and CRP is a reliable marker for predicting both mortality and morbidity.     

Evaluation of Severity in Patients with Acute Pancreatitis

We compared the multiple organ system failure (MOSF) score, the Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II, and Ranson and Imrie scores for their predictive value in evaluating severity of acute pancreatitis. Of the 259 patients, 73 (28%) had severe disease. Fifty-two (20%) patients had organ system failure (OSF) on admission, and 59% of patients with severe disease had OSF. Shortly after admission, only MOSF and APACHE II scores were available, and in patients with severe disease, these predictions were correct in 64% and 60%, respectively. Forty-eight hours later, the MOSF score was the most sensitive, and correctly predicted outcome in 67% of patients, compared with about 60% for other scores. Of four scoring systems, only MOSF and APACHE II scores allowed repetitive assessment to monitor the course of the disease. MOSF score is organ-specific and may be better than APACHE II in reflecting disease activity. Our results suggest that the MOSF score is valuable in early identification and close monitoring of high risk patients and in deciding on therapy in these patients.     

Early EUS of the bile duct before endoscopic sphincterotomy for acute biliary pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic sphincterotomy can benefit patients with suspected biliary pancreatitis, although there are procedure-related complications. EUS can be used to select patients for endoscopic sphincterotomy. The results of this strategy were assessed. METHODS: Information on patients referred for EUS were recorded in a database. One hundred twenty-three patients with suspected biliary pancreatitis (57 men, 66 women; median age 55 years) were included and followed. All underwent EUS followed by endoscopic sphincterotomy during the same procedure if choledocholithiasis was identified. Outcomes were studied in relation to the initial severity of biliary pancreatitis (Ranson and Balthazar scores), presence of stones, and time span between onset of biliary pancreatitis and EUS plus endoscopic sphincterotomy. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients (28%) had a Ranson score greater than 3 on admission and 38 (31%) were Balthazar D-E. The median time from admission to EUS was 3 days. EUS imaging of the bile duct was complete in all but 3 patients. Thirty-three patients (27%) had choledocholithiasis on EUS and underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy. Stones were more frequent in patients with jaundice (p < 0.005) and when EUS was performed less than 3 days after admission (p < 0.05). One hundred patients (81%) recovered without complication. Two patients (1.6%) died, 1 had recurrent BP develop, 6 (5%) had further biliary symptoms, and 16 (13%) had complications of pancreatitis develop (9 pseudocysts). There were 3 mild endoscopic sphincterotomy-related complications (complication rate 6.5%). CONCLUSIONS: In this series in which endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed selectively depending on the endosonographic presence or absence of ductal stones early in the course of the pancreatitis, and not according to its predicted severity, mortality and complications of endoscopic sphincterotomy were low and unrelated to the predicted severity of biliary pancreatitis or the presence of choledocholithiasis. Controlled trials are needed to confirm the superiority of this strategy compared with ERCP alone for the management of biliary pancreatitis.     

Staging of severity and prognosis of acute pancreatitis by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging—A comparative study

BACKGROUND: Determination of severity of acute pancreatitis is important to determine prognosis. AIMS: (1) the staging of acute pancreatitis by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, (2) the correlation of computed tomography and magnetic resonance severity indices and 3) the correlation of magnetic resonance severity index with C-reactive protein, Ranson score, duration of hospitalization and clinical outcome. PATIENTS: Thirty-five patients (median age: 64 (27-89)) were studied. Twenty-two patients had biliary acute pancreatitis. METHODS: The following examinations were conducted: (1) computed tomography 48 h, 7 and 30 days after admission, (2) magnetic resonance imaging 7 and 30 days after admission, (3) C-reactive protein and 4) Ranson score. Clinical outcome was determined on a scale 0-3 (0: remission, 1: local complications, 2: systemic complications, 3: death). RESULTS: Six of 35 patients (17%) had necrotizing acute pancreatitis. Fifteen of 35 patients (43%) had severe acute pancreatitis according to Ranson criteria. A significant correlation was noted between magnetic resonance severity index and C-reactive protein (r=0.419, p<0.005), Ranson score (r=0.431, p<0.05), duration of hospitalization (r=0.497, p<0.01) and clinical outcome (r=0.420, p<0.05). Comparison of the imaging methods showed a significant correlation between magnetic resonance severity index and computed tomography severity index (r=0.887, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance imaging is of comparable diagnostic and prognostic value with computed tomography in the staging of acute pancreatitis.     

Balthazar computed tomography severity index is superior to Ranson criteria and APACHE II and III scoring systems in predicting acute pancreatitis outcome

BACKGROUND AND GOALS: Acute pancreatitis runs an unpredictable course. We prospectively analyzed the prognostic usefulness of four different scoring systems in separately assessing three variables; acute pancreatitis severity, development of organ failure and pancreatic necrosis. STUDY: 78 patients with acute pancreatitis were studied prospectively. Data pertinent to scoring systems were recorded 24 hours (APACHE II and III scores), 48 hours (Ranson score) and 72 hours (Balthazar computed tomography severity index) after admission. Statistical analysis was performed by using receiver operating characteristic curves and by comparing likelihood ratios of positive test (LRPT) for all three outcome variables. RESULTS: 44 patients were classified as mild and 34 as severe pancreatitis. When we compared LRPT, only that for the Balthazar score (11.2157) was able to generate large and conclusive changes from pretest to post-test probability in acute pancreatitis severity prediction. LRPT were 2.4157 for Ranson, 4.0980 for APACHE II and 3.6670 for APACHE III score. The APACHE II and III scores and Ranson criteria performed slightly better than the Balthazar score in predicting organ failure (LRPT: 4.0667, 3.2892, 3.0362 and 1.7941 respectively), while when predicting pancreatic necrosis the APACHE II and III performed slightly better than the Ranson score (LRPT: 2.0769, 2.7500 and 1.7813 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In all outcome measures the APACHE scores generate small and of similar extent changes in probability. The Balthazar score is superior to other scoring systems in predicting acute pancreatitis severity and pancreatic necrosis. However the Ranson and APACHE scores perform slightly better with respect to organ failure prediction.     

Issues of nutritional support for the patient with acute pancreatitis

Management strategies in the nutritional support of the patient with acute pancreatitis have changed dramatically over the past 10 years. Prospective randomized trials show that maintaining gut integrity is equally as important as placing the pancreas at rest while inflammation within the gland resolves. In comparison to total parenteral nutrition and gut disuse, enteral feeding attenuates disease severity, reduces oxidative stress, and improves patient outcome. Nasojejunal feeds infused at or below the Ligament of Treitz should be provided to those patients with severe pancreatitis, as identified by a number of standardized scoring systems such as Ranson Criteria, APACHE II, Glasgow, and Imrie scores. Total parenteral nutrition should be reserved only for the patient with severe pancreatitis, initiated 4 to 5 days after peak inflammation in whom intolerance to enteral feeding has been shown and/or enteral access cannot be obtained. Vigilant monitoring is required to assure safe and effective delivery of enteral nutrients.     

Functional polymorphisms of the GSTT-1 gene do not predict the severity of acute pancreatitis in the United States.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory response to pancreatic injury that is clinically classified as mild AP or severe AP, depending on specific criteria. Rahman and colleagues [Gastroenterology 2004;126:1312-1322] reported that genetic variation in the glutathione S-transferase theta-1 gene (GSTT-1) is associated with susceptibility and severity of AP in England. Our aim was to determine whether the same GSTT-1 polymorphism affects the severity of AP in a population from Pittsburgh, Pa., USA. METHODS: Ninety-one consecutive patients with AP (19 severe) were prospectively evaluated. The GSTT-1 haplotypes were determined by PCR amplification in all patients and 268 controls. The resulting genotypes were classified as functional (GSTT-1*A/*A or *A/null) and nonfunctional (GSTT-1 null/null) phenotypes. RESULTS: The relative frequencies of functional GSTT-1 phenotypes were similar in subjects with severe AP (15 of 19, 78.9%) and mild AP (61 of 72, 84.7%; p = 0.54) and in the controls (228 of 268, 85.1%; p = 0.66). Furthermore, the GSTT-1 functional and nonfunctional phenotypes were not associated with serum C-reactive protein levels (11.9 vs. 7.3 mg/dl; p = 0.19), interleukin-6 levels (74 vs. 60 pg/ml; p = 0.9), APACHE II scores (7 vs. 9; p = 0.26), or 48-hour Ranson scores (1 vs. 1; p = 0.63). CONCLUSION: Functional GSTT-1 phenotypes do not correlate with susceptibility to AP or severity of AP in our patient population.     

Current management of acute pancreatitis

The incidence of acute pancreatitis varies considerably between regions and is estimated at 5-80 per 100,000 population. The mortality rate of acute edematous-interstitial pancreatitis is below 1%, whereas 10-24% of patients with severe acute pancreatitis die. The early prognostic factors that can be used to determine whether the clinical course is likely to be severe are three or more signs of organ failure according to the Ranson or Imrie scores, the presence of nonpancreatic complications, and the detection of pancreatic necrosis by imaging techniques. Elevated C-reactive protein levels above 130 mg/l can also predict a severe course of acute pancreatitis with high sensitivity. Although no causal treatment exists, replacing the dramatic fluid loss that takes place in the early disease phase is critical and determines the patient's prognosis. Adequate pain relief with opiates is another therapeutic priority. In patients with pancreatic necrosis, the high mortality rate between the third and fourth week after the initial episode is determined largely by the development of pancreatic infection, and can therefore be reduced by early antibiotic treatment. Early enteral nutrition for the treatment of acute pancreatitis has been shown to be superior and much more cost-effective than parenteral nutrition. Infected pancreatic necrosis or pancreatic abscess are two of the few remaining indications for open surgery in acute pancreatitis. Even when indicated, surgery is frequently delayed or even replaced by minimally invasive surgical techniques.     

血清促炎细胞因子水平与急性胰腺炎严重程度的相关性研究

目的 探究血清促炎细胞因子白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)及高迁移率族蛋白B-1(HMGB1)水平在早期评估急性胰腺炎(AP)患者严重程度及预后的价值.方法 以33例重症急性胰腺炎(SAP)和38例轻症急性胰腺炎(MAP)患者为研究对象,另以51名健康体检者作为对照组.采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测血清IL-6、TNF-α及HMGB1水平,分析三者与患者Ranson评分、APACHEⅡ评分、Bahhazar CT评分、血清生化指标及预后的关系.结果 SAP组、MAP组、健康对照组血清IL-6水平分别为(553.72±175.76)pg/ml、(265.73±179.95)pg/ml和(16.43±3.32)pg/ml,三组间差异均有统计学意义(P均＜0.01).SAP组、MAP组、健康对照组血清TNF-α水平三组间差异均无统计学意义(P均＞0.05).SAP组、MAP组、健康对照组血清HMGB1水平分别为(11.48±6.94)μg/L、(6.13±5.80)μg/和(1.82±0.64)/μg/L,三组间HMGB1值差异均有统计学意义(P均＜0.05).患者血清HMGB1水平与IL-6,TNF-α的相关系数分别为0.896和0.724(P＜0.01).血清IL-6水平与Ranson评分、APACHE Ⅱ评分、Balthazar CT 评分均呈正相关;血清TNF-α水平与APACHEⅡ评分呈正相关;血清HMGB1水平与Ranson评分、Balthazar CT评分呈正相关.三者血清水平均与肌酐值呈正相关.病程中出现局部和(或)全身并发症者血清IL-6水平显著高于无并发症者.结论 血清IL-6、TNF-α、HMGB1水平与胰腺炎病情的严重程度显著相关,三者参与AP时急性肾功能不全的发生,血清IL-6水平升高与并发症发生显著相关.

Abstract：

Objective To explore the value of serum level of interleukin 6 (IL-6),tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and high mobility group box-1 protein( HMGB1) in early assessment the severity and prognosis of acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods Thirty-three severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) patients and 38 mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) patients were selected as study objects;and 51healthy individuals were set as control group. Serum IL-6,TNF-α and HMGB1 concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),the association of them and the scores of Ranson,APACHE Ⅱ . Balthazar CT,serum biochemical parameters and prognosis was analyzed.Results The serum IL-6 levels of SAP group,MAP group and healthy control group were (553. 72±175.76) pg/ml,(265. 73±179. 95) pg/ml and (16. 43±3. 32) pg/ml;and there were statistical significance of these three groups (all P＜0. 01). There was no significant difference of TNF-α in the three groups (all P＞0. 05). The serum HMGB1 levels of SAP group,MAP group and healthy control group were (11. 48±6. 94)μg/L,(6. 13±5. 80)μg/L and (1. 82±0. 64)μg/L respectively,and there were statistical significant of these three groups (all P＜0. 05). The correlation coefficient of serum HMGB1 with IL-6 and TNF-α were 0. 896 and 0. 724 (P＜0. 01) respectively. The IL-6 level was positively correlated with the scores of Ranson,APACHE Ⅱ and Balthazar CT. The TNF-αconcentration was positively correlated with APACHE Ⅱ score,and the HMGB1 concentration positively correlated with scores of Ranson and Balthazar CT. The levels of IL-6,TNF-α and HMGB1were all positively correlated with the serum creatinine concentration. The IL-6 levels of patients with local and/or systemic complications were significantly higher than those without complications.Conclusion The serum levels of IL-6,TNF-α and HMGB1 are significantly correlated with the severity of pancreatitis,all of them take part in the development of acute renal insufficiency. The high level of serum IL-6 significantly correlated with complications.