Early systemic inflammatory response syndrome is associated with severe acute pancreatitis.
OBJECTIVE
There have been few clinical studies of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in patients with acute pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of SIRS in assessing severity of acute pancreatitis.


METHODS
We prospectively enrolled 252 consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis who were admitted directly to our institution between 2005-2007. The incidence and duration of SIRS (transient <or=48 hours vs persistent >48 hours) during the first 7 days of hospitalization, and the number of SIRS criteria (0-4) on the first day of hospitalization (day 1) were evaluated with individual markers of severity, including persistent organ failure, pancreatic necrosis, need for intensive care unit, and mortality.


RESULTS
SIRS occurred in 155/252 patients (62%) on day 1. SIRS on day 1 predicted severe disease with high sensitivity (85%-100%). The absence of SIRS on day 1 was associated with a high negative predictive value (98%-100%). Patients with a higher number of systemic inflammatory response (SIR) criteria on day 1 and persistent SIRS had an increased risk for severe disease (P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of patients hospitalized with acute pancreatitis have SIRS on day 1. The severity of acute pancreatitis is greater among patients with SIRS on day 1 and, in particular, among those with 3 or 4 SIRS criteria, compared with those without SIRS on day 1.
Singh
Vikesh K
VK
Division of Gastroenterology, Center for Pancreatic Disease, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Wu
Bechien U
BU
Bollen
Thomas L
TL
Repas
Kathryn
K
Maurer
Rie
R
Mortele
Koenraad J
KJ
Banks
Peter A
PA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors