title: The value of serum fibrinogen level in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of serum fibrinogen level in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed on 201 patients who admitted to our clinic. Symptoms, signs, duration of symptoms, and laboratory indicators of appendicitis were recorded, in keeping with the Alvarado score for acute appendicitis. The ultimate diagnosis was based on histopathological results. Serum fibrinogen levels were detected before surgery. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of single test and test combinations were calculated at different cut-off levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 201 patients underwent surgery for suspected acute appendicitis. Appendicitis was confirmed in 179 (89%) patients. The mean age was 24.8±7.7 (range, 20-57) years, and 154 (76.6%) patients were male and 47 (23.4%) female. The best diagnostic cut-off point for fibrinogen was found at 245.5 mg/dl, for white blood cells (WBC) at 11,900x109/L and for Alvarado score at 7.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of fibrinogen blood level may be a new diagnostic acute-phase reactant in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. The formulation of a triple test is recommended as criteria in deciding emergency surgery or observation.
authors.affiliation: Depertment of General Surgery, Gülhane Military Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey. onermentes@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Oner
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Menteş
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eryılmaz
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harlak
authors.forename: Erkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oztürk
authors.forename: Turgut
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tufan
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063305:Organ Dysfunction Scores; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005340:Fibrinogen