Clinical Usefulness of Cortisol, Antinuclear Antibodies and High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein in Diagnostic and Prognostic Evaluation of Acute Pancreatitis

Severe acute pancreatitis is one of the most common acute abdomens in clinical practice. Owing to its acute onset, rapid progress, and high mortality, it has become a hot clinical study spot and one of the toughest medical problems. Markers of inflammation, such as high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP), are predictive of the severity of acute pancreatitis and may be useful in identifying patients with severe acute pancreatitis in the early phase after onset.

Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are important biomarkers for the autoimmune disorder. ANA may contribute to the pathogenesis of pancreatitis and ANA positivity is associated with the presence of autoimmune pancreatitis. Cortisol is released into the blood due to stimulation of corticotrophin receptors in the adrenal cortex. Thus, serum cortisol can be measured. Although the association between serum levels of some inflammatory marker and acute pancreatitis revealed, the relationship between ANA, cortisol, hs-CRP and with the severity of acute pancreatic lesions have not evaluated yet.