Role of Serum Procalcitonin in Predicting the Severity in Patients with Acute Pancreatitis (Code-T0057)

Introduction: Acute pancreatitis is a potentially life-threatening condition with varied severity, ranging from mild cases to severe forms associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Early prediction of severity is crucial for effective management. Serum procalcitonin (PCT), a biomarker elevated in systemic inflammatory responses, is gaining recognition for its role in prognostic evaluation.

Aims and Objectives:

1. Primary Objective: Role of serum procalcitonin in predicting the severity in patients of acute pancreatitis.
2. Secondary Objective: To compare the PCT with CRP for predicting severity in patients of acute pancreatitis.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 82 patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis at a tertiary care hospital from June 2023 to May 2024. Patients were categorized based on the Revised Atlanta Classification into mild, moderately severe, and severe acute pancreatitis. Serum procalcitonin and CRP levels were measured within 24 hours of admission, and their diagnostic accuracy was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Results: The study included 82 patients, with 58.5% males and 41.5% females. Gallstone-induced pancreatitis was the most common etiology (52%). Serum procalcitonin levels demonstrated higher sensitivity (89%) and specificity (85%) in predicting severe acute pancreatitis compared to CRP (sensitivity 75%, specificity 78%). PCT levels correlated strongly with disease severity, length of hospital stay, and need for intensive care.

Conclusion: Serum procalcitonin is a reliable biomarker for predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis, outperforming CRP. Its inclusion in clinical practice can enhance early risk stratification and optimize patient management.

Keywords: Acute pancreatitis, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, severity prediction, inflammatory biomarkers, Revised Atlanta Classification.