Serum levels of pancreatitis-associated protein as indicators of the course of acute pancreatitis. Multicentric Study Group on Acute Pancreatitis.
OBJECTIVE
The pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP) is undetectable in normal pancreatic secretion and overexpressed in the acute phase of pancreatitis. We investigated whether serum PAP could be an indicator of the course of acute pancreatitis.


METHODS
Serum PAP was retrospectively monitored in 98 patients with acute pancreatitis during their stay in the hospital. Patients were classified according to the severity of their disease as group I (< or = 1 complication), group II (> or = 2 complications), or group III (lethal pancreatitis).


RESULTS
At admission, 34% of patients, all from group I, had normal PAP values (< 10 micrograms/L). None of them developed complications. They had a significantly shorter stay in the hospital than patients with elevated PAP (6.2 days vs. 14.9 days). In all patients, serum PAP increased after admission to a maximum, which correlated significantly to the severity of the disease. Average peak values were 22.2 micrograms/L and 240.0 micrograms/L in group I patients with normal or high PAP at admission, 963.0 micrograms/L and 1436.0 micrograms/L in groups II and III. Serum PAP decreased steadily during recovery.


CONCLUSIONS
Monitoring serum PAP in patients with acute pancreatitis would provide (1) at admission, selection of most patients who will not develop complications; (2) a dynamic assessment of severity; and (3) anticipation of the patient's recovery.
Iovanna
J L
JL
U 315 Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Marseille, France.
Keim
V
V
Nordback
I
I
Montalto
G
G
Camarena
J
J
Letoublon
C
C
Lévy
P
P
Berthézène
P
P
Dagorn
J C
JC
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000073718:Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins; D011379:Prognosis; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D012016:Reference Values; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D000073718:Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins; D011506:Proteins; C000612141:REG3A protein, human