SERUM D-DIMER AS A TOOL FOR ASSESSMENT OF SEVERITY IN PATIENTS OF ACUTE PANCREATITIS

Abstract

Introduction: Acute Pancreatitis (AP) is a potentially life threatening disease with varying severity of presentation from mild pain to persistent organ failure. D-dimer is an indirect measure of brin degradation products. It is a stable molecule with half-life of 4-8 hours. Material &Method: This is a prospective study done on 60 patients of acute pancreatitis treated at Department of General Surgery, Sir Sunderlal Hospital IMS BHU Varanasi, UPfrom the period of 2016 to 2018. Patients with diagnosis of APas per revised Atlanta classication were taken and D-dimer level was assessed at the time of presentation and patients were followed to assess the severity of disease and outcome. The D-dimer values were correlated with the Glasgow-Imrie score as well as the CTseverity index (CTSI) Result: Median value of D-dimer was found to be 3.68 mg/IFEU among the cases and 0.3 mg/IFEU among healthy volunteers. D-dimer levels increased as per CTSI severity score ranging from 2.97 to >5.70 mg/IFEU along with increased mortality in patients whom D-dimer levels were found to be high. D-dimer also showed positive correlation with Glasgow–Imrie score. Conclusion: Determining the serum concentration of D-dimer on day of admission is helpful in earlier prediction and assessment of severity of AP.