title: Evaluation of serum TWEAK concentration in patients with acute pancreatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor super family of structurally-related cytokines. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic and prognostic role of serum TWEAK concentration in patients with acute pancreatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty four patients with acute pancreatitis and 24 consecutive healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects were included in the study. The serum concentrations of TWEAK were measured at admission and then at remission. The average time between admission and remission was 7-10 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At admission, TWEAK concentration was significantly lower in patients with acute pancreatitis compared to control subjects (p < 0.001). Serum TWEAK concentrations were elevated after the remission period, however the differences were not statistically significant. In addition, serum TWEAK concentration showed a significant, inverse correlation with amylase, lipase, CRP, AST, fibrinogen, LDH and a positive correlation with calcium, albumin and platelet count.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with acute pancreatitis have lower serum TWEAK concentration than healthy subjects. These results suggest that serum TWEAK concentration could be a potential biomarker of acute pancreatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. kocak67@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koçak
authors.forename: Seyfettin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Köklü
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Başar
authors.forename: Fatma Meriç
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Aydin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciftçi
authors.forename: Coşkun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Salih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cesur
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demirci
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Akbal
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taş
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood; D017209:Apoptosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D000074049:Cytokine TWEAK; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008049:Lipase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000074049:Cytokine TWEAK; D008024:Ligands; C109743:TNFSF12 protein, human; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D008049:Lipase; D000681:Amylases