title: Evaluation of serum L-FABP levels in patients with acute pancreatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to assess the serum L-FABP levels in patients with acute pancreatitis and compare with healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with acute pancreatitis and thirty consecutive healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects were included into the study. The serum levels of L-FABP were measured upon admission and at the remission period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Upon admission, serum L-FABP concentration was significantly higher in patients with acute pancreatitis compared to control subjects (41009.41 ± 32401.31 pg/ml vs. 17057.00 ± 5015.74 pg/ml, p=0.008). Serum L-FABP levels decreased after the remission period; however, the differences were not statistically significant. In addition, serum L-FABP levels showed significant correlation with AST and LDH levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased serum L-FABP levels may be related to the mechanism of pancreatic microcirculatory disturbance in patients with acute pancreatitis, suggesting that serum L-FABP could be used for a potential biomarker of acute pancreatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Çanakkale State Hospital, Çanakkale, Turkey. kocak67@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koçak
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Çanakkale Onsekizmart University Faculty of Medicine, Çanakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Akbal
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seyfettin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Köklü
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Çanakkale Onsekizmart University Faculty of Medicine, Çanakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gürhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adam
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins