title: The value of pancreatic stone protein in predicting acute appendicitis in patients presenting at the emergency department with abdominal pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pancreatic Stone Protein (PSP) is a protein naturally produced mainly in the pancreas and the gut. There is evidence from experimental and clinical trials that blood PSP levels rise in the presence of inflammation or infection. However, it is not known whether PSP is superior to other established blood tests (e.g. White Blood Count, Neutrophils or C - reactive protein) in predicting appendicitis in patients presenting with abdominal pain and a clinical suspicion of appendicitis at the emergency room.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PSP Appendix Trial is a prospective, multi-center, cohort study to assess the value of PSP in the diagnostic workup of acute appendicitis. 245 patients will be prospectively recruited. Interim analysis will be performed once 123 patients are recruited. The primary endpoint of the study concerns the diagnostic accuracy of PSP in predicting acute appendicitis and therefore the evidence of appendicitis on the histopathological specimen after appendectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PSP Appendix Trial is a prospective, multi-center, cohort study to assess the value of PSP in the diagnostic workup of acute appendicitis.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01610193; Institution Ethical Board Approval ID: KEKZH- Nr. 2011-0501.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. christoph.tschuor@usz.ch
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tschuor
authors.forename: Dimitri Aristotle
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Raptis
authors.forename: Përparim
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Limani
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bächler
authors.forename: Christian Eugen
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Oberkofler
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Breitenstein
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Graf
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D051847:Lithostathine / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D051847:Lithostathine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein