Obesity and fat distribution imply a greater systemic inflammatory response and a worse prognosis in acute pancreatitis.
OBJECTIVE
Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a systemic inflammatory disease. It is already known that obesity and central fat distribution are related to the severity of AP, but the intimate mechanism of this relationship remains unknown. Obesity and central fat distribution are associated with an inflammatory state that could amplify the systemic inflammatory response (SIR) in AP. The aim of this study was to investigate how obesity and body fat distribution correlate with the SIR and severity of AP.


METHODS
85 consecutive patients with AP were studied. Body mass index, body fat distribution and previous comorbidity were obtained at admission. The SIR was assessed by the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-1ra, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and C-reactive protein. Serum concentrations of the previously mentioned cytokines were also determined in a control group of 40 healthy volunteers.


RESULTS
63 patients (74%) had mild AP and 22 patients (26%) had severe AP. All the cytokines except IL-12p70 and TNF-alpha were increased in the AP group in comparison with the control group. The SIR was significantly increased in patients with severe AP. Obese patients and patients with central fat distribution had significantly more comorbidity, a higher proportion of severe AP and more intense SIR. Patients with comorbidity had a significantly higher proportion of severe AP and more SIR.


CONCLUSIONS
The severity of AP in obese patients and in patients with central fat distribution seems to be related to the comorbidity and the amplification of SIR. and IAP.
Sempere
Laura
L
Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
Martinez
Juan
J
de Madaria
Enrique
E
Lozano
Beatriz
B
Sanchez-Paya
Jose
J
Jover
Rodrigo
R
Perez-Mateo
Miguel
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007378:Interleukins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein