Biomarker Panel Enhances Early Diagnosis and Severity Prediction in Acute Pancreatitis

A retrospective study published in Scientific Reports has identified a biomarker panel that improves early diagnosis and severity assessment in acute pancreatitis (AP).

The study analyzed 137 patients with AP and 30 healthy controls at Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital between January 2021 and September 2023, focusing on procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index.

The results showed significantly elevated levels of all biomarkers in patients with AP compared to controls (P < 0.001), with CRP and NLR also correlating strongly with disease severity (P < 0.01). Alcohol consumption and hyperlipidemia emerged as significant factors associated with severe AP (P for trend < 0.0001).

Multivariate logistic regression identified hyperlipidemia (OR = 3.030, P = 0.040), CRP (OR = 1.011, P < 0.001), and NLR (OR = 1.078, P = 0.020) as independent predictors of severe AP (SAP). Notably, a combined model incorporating CRP, NLR, and the TyG index achieved the highest diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.882, sensitivity of 77.2%, and specificity of 88.5%. However, the performance of this model was not significantly superior to simpler combinations such as CRP + NLR or CRP + TyG (P > 0.05).

"CRP, NLR, and the TyG index provide a robust framework for identifying patients at higher risk of severe AP," the authors stated. "The combined use of these biomarkers enhances diagnostic precision and can guide personalized treatment strategies."

Validation through 5-fold cross-validation confirmed consistent model performance, with a mean AUC of 0.817 ± 0.118. This study underscores the clinical utility of integrating biomarkers for early detection and severity assessment of AP, offering clinicians a practical approach to improve patient outcomes.

Reference
Xinyu X, Jiang Z, Qing A, Lihua L, Xiehong L, Lin Z. Clinical significance of PCT, CRP, IL-6, NLR, and TyG Index in early diagnosis and severity assessment of acute pancreatitis: A retrospective analysis. Sci Rep. Published online ahead of print January 23, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-86664-x