Background: The aim of this study is to explore how procalcitonin can serve as a useful marker for predicting infected necrosis in acute pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis is a major reason why people are hospitalized. This condition can vary from mild to severe. Although the modified CT Severity Index (CTSI) and FNAC are valuable tools, they have some drawbacks. They require advanced technical equipment and skilled personnel, and also carry a risk of complications, making them less accessible and affordable. Therefore, I believe that procalcitonin could be an important and cost-effective marker for assessing the severity of acute pancreatitis.
Materials and Methods: This study is a prospective observational study. The researchers measured procalcitonin levels in all patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis when they were admitted and again 72 hours later. They also performed a Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) scan of the abdomen 72 hours after admission. The team compared the procalcitonin levels with the Computed Tomography Severity Index (CTSI) CT findings of presence of necrosis and gas. They considered a serum procalcitonin level of ?0.5 ng/ml to be significant.
Results: Correlation of clinical severity with presence of pancreatic necrosis showed a positive correlation (p=0.001). Severe cases showed greater presence of infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN). Similarly serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels were also correlated with pancreatic necrosis. PCT levels both at admission and at 72hours showed a positive correlation with infected pancreatic necrosis with p-value being 0.002 and 0.004 respectively.
Conclusion: Thus, we may conclude that serum procalcitonin measurements are valuable in predicting disease severity in acute pancreatitis along with risk of developing infected pancreatic necrosis as it is a reliable indicator of the same.
Keywords: Acute pancreatitis, Severe pancreatitis, Infected pancreatic necrosis, Pancreatic necrosis, MCTSI (modified Computed tomography severity index, Serum procalcitonin, Revised Atlanta classification
