•  
  •  
 

Subject Area

Rheumatology and Rehabilitation

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective The aim was to evaluate the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and β-2 microglobulin (B2M) in assessment of severity of pancreatitis. Background Acute pancreatitis is a potentially lethal disease, especially in its severe form, which accounts for ~20% of cases in patients hospitalized with acute pancreatitis. Patients and methods This prospective comparative study was conducted on 80 patients with acute pancreatitis who were divided into two groups: mild/moderate acute pancreatitis (MAP) group and severe acute pancreatitis (SAP group). All patients were subjected to full history taking; clinical examination; and laboratory investigation, which included complete blood count, renal function tests, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, international normalized ratio, liver function tests, serum electrolytes, serum albumin, serum amylase and lipase, and pancreatic markers. Results The authors found a highly significant increase in total leukocyte count in SAP group when compared with MAP group (P < 0.001); a highly significant decrease in serum albumin in SAP group when compared with MAP group (P < 0.001); a highly significant increase in baseline IL-6, IL-8, and B2M in SAP group when compared with MAP group (P < 0.001); a significant increase in third day IL-6, IL-8, and B2M in SAP group when compared with MAP group (P < 0.001); and a highly significant increase in complications and mortality rate, in SAP group when compared with MAP group (P < 0.001). Conclusion Inflammatory markers, particularly ILs, are important tools in the prediction and follow-up of patients with AP.

Download

Share

COinS