Application of atomic force microscopy for the comparative analysis of moderate and severe acute pancreatitis in the early stages of the disease

Objective. To compare the condition of erythrocytes and erythrocyte membranes in cases of moderate and severe acute pancreatitis during the early stages of the disease. Material and methods. A multicenter prospective study was conducted involving 15 practically healthy individuals and 61 patients with acute pancreatitis who were hospitalized in Krasnoyarsk from 2021 to 2023. Among them, 29 patients had clinically confirmed moderate acute pancreatitis, while 32 had severe acute pancreatitis. In addition to routine diagnostic methods, all participants underwent atomic force microscopy of erythrocytes collected from the cubital vein upon admission. Results. Examination of the erythrocyte membrane revealed the presence of erosions on the cell surface. Both the number and size of these ulcerative defects correlated with disease severity. In severe cases, the number of erosions approximately doubled, accompanied by an increase in their length, width, and depth. The greater the extent of these structural alterations, the higher the likelihood of erythrocyte destruction. Conclusion. Given the similarity between erythrocyte membrane alterations and cellular changes in other organs, including the pancreas, atomic force microscopy may be recommended as a method of choice for assessing disease severity and predicting the progression of acute pancreatitis at early stages.