Comparative Analysis of Serum Procalcitonin Levels with CT Severity Index in Acute Pancreatitis

Plasma procalcitonin (PCT) is a highly specific biomarker for the diagnosis of bacterial infection and sepsis. There are studies that have demonstrated its role in the setting of sepsis and acute pancreatitis. This study aims to analyze and compare the prognostic efficacy of serum procalcitonin level with CT severity Index in acute pancreatitis. A prospective observational study was conducted in the department of general surgery of Kempegowda Institute of medical Sciences and Research Centre from March 2021 to August 2022. Plasma procalcitonin was estimated and CT severity scoring was calculated. The study included a total of 51 patients diagnosed to have acute pancreatitis. Data was collected and statistically analyzed using SPSS version 22. All patients were males with a mean age of 42.29 years (range, 18-62 years) and all had ethanol-induced pancreatitis. Plasma PCT values were found to correlate better than CT severity index with the total duration of hospitalization, and ICU stay, as well as with the progression to severe acute pancreatitis. A cut off for plasma PCT of >0.5 ng/mL was found to be 100 % sensitive and 100 % specific for predicting the progression to severe acute pancreatitis. Plasma PCT also correlated well with number of days of hospitalization when compared to CT severity Index. Plasma procalcitonin serves as an early and dependable marker for predicting outcomes in acute pancreatitis.