Utility of hematological parameters in predicting the severity and course of acute gallstone pancreatitis

Background and Aims: Acute pancreatitis is a serious disorder which can lead to severe organ failure and mortality. Early predictors of severe disease course is crucial in the decision making process of the healthcare team. Complete blood count, or hemogram, is a commonly used laboratory test in daily clinical practice. The aim of this study is to define a potential predictive biomarker for acute gallstone pancreatitis amongst the parameters evaluated in complete blood count, hence identifying patients with risk of unfavorable outcomes through an easy-to-use serum marker. Materials and Methods: 233 acute pancreatitis patients secondary to gallstones were evaluated retrospectively. Patient data was gathered from hospital registry system and patient records recorded prospectively at the time of admission. Hematological parameters were compared with severity scoring systems for acute pancreatitis and disease outcomes. Results: White blood cell counts and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio were correlated with severity scoring systems. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was correlated with a longer hospitalization time and a cut-off point of 5 was found to be useful in predicting disease course. Conclusion: Hematological parameters, particularly neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, are promising predictive biomarkers for acute gallstone pancreatitis severity.