Serum profiles of C-reactive protein, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in patients with acute pancreatitis.
OBJECTIVE
Early prediction of the severity of acute pancreatitis would lead to prompt intensive treatment resulting in improvement of the outcome. The present study investigated the use of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) as prognosticators of the severity of the disease.


METHODS
Twenty-six patients with acute pancreatitis were studied. Patients with APACHE II score of 9 or more formed the severe group, while the mild group consisted of patients with APACHE II score of less than 9. Serum samples for measurement of CRP, IL-8 and TNF-alpha were collected on the day of admission and additionally on the 2nd, 3rd and 7th days.


RESULTS
Significantly higher levels of IL-8 were found in patients with severe acute pancreatitis compared to those with mild disease especially at the 2nd and 3rd days (P = .001 and P = .014, resp.). No significant difference for CRP and TNF-alpha was observed between the two groups. The optimal cut-offs for IL-8 in order to discriminate severe from mild disease at the 2nd and 3rd days were 25.4 pg/mL and 14.5 pg/mL, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
IL-8 in early phase of acute pancreatitis is superior marker compared to CRP and TNF-alpha for distinguishing patients with severe disease.
Digalakis
Michael K
MK
Department of Surgery, Asklepieio Voulas General Hospital, 16673 Athens, Greece.
Katsoulis
Iraklis E
IE
Biliri
Kalliopi
K
Themeli-Digalaki
Katina
K