CORRELATION OF C-REACTIVE PROTEIN LEVELS AND MODIFIED COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY SEVERITY INDEX IN ASSESSING SEVERITY OF ACUTE PANCREATITIS

Abstract

Introduction:

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common gastrointestinal disorder with a highly variable clinical course, ranging from mild, self-limiting disease to severe, life-threatening illness. Accurate early assessment of severity is crucial for management. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between early serum C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels and the modified computed tomography severity index (MCTSI) in assessing the severity of acute pancreatitis.

^Methods:

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Armed Forces Institute of Radiology and Imaging, Rawalpindi, over 9 months. A total of 57 patients diagnosed with AP were included. Serum CRP levels were measured within the first 48 hours of admission, and all patients underwent contrast-enhanced CT between 72 hours and 7 days after symptom onset for MCTSI calculation. The correlation between CRP and MCTSI was analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation.

^Results:

The mean age of participants was 45.8 ± 13.6 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. The mean CRP level was 186.4 ± 72.9 mg/L, and the mean MCTSI score was 5.3 ± 2.1. A statistically significant strong positive correlation was found between CRP levels and MCTSI scores (Spearman's rho = 0.68, p < 0.001). Furthermore, mean CRP levels showed a stepwise increase across severity categories: 102.5 ± 38.2 mg/L (mild), 184.7 ± 55.4 mg/L (moderate), and 275.3 ± 61.7 mg/L (severe).

^Conclusion:

Early serum CRP level is a strong predictor of radiological severity in acute pancreatitis, as quantified by the MCTSI. Its measurement within 48 hours of admission serves as a reliable, cost- effective biomarker for early risk stratification, aiding in timely clinical management and potentially improving patient outcomes.