Inflammatory Biomarkers and Hospital Stay in Acute Pancreatitis: The Role of CRP, RDW, MPV, and Albumin
Inflammatory parameters in acute pancreatitis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16583653Keywords:
acute pancreatitis, c-reactive protein, mean platelet volume, inflammatory markerAbstract
Background:
Acute pancreatitis is a common inflammatory condition with variable clinical presentation, ranging from mild, self-limiting episodes to severe disease requiring prolonged hospitalization. Early identification of patients at risk for severe disease is essential for improving outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the association between routine inflammatory markers—C-reactive protein (CRP), mean platelet volume (MPV), red cell distribution width (RDW), and albumin—and the length of hospital stay in patients with acute pancreatitis.
Methods:
This retrospective study included 164 patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis between 2008 and 2013. Demographic and laboratory data, Ranson scores, and length of hospital stay were recorded. Patients were categorized by disease severity (Ranson score <3 or ≥3) and etiologic type (biliary vs. non-biliary). Laboratory cut-off values were determined based on literature data. Statistical analyses included t-test, Mann–Whitney U, chi-square, and Spearman correlation tests.
Results:
The mean age was 58.4 ± 17.2 years, with a female predominance (65.2%). Biliary etiology was the most common (68.3%). Severe disease (Ranson score ≥3) was observed in 23.2% of patients and was associated with significantly higher CRP levels and longer hospital stays (p<0.05). Patients with CRP >150 mg/L or MPV ≥7.5 fL had significantly longer hospitalizations. Spearman analysis revealed a moderate positive correlation between CRP and hospital stay duration (r=0.458, p<0.001). RDW and albumin levels showed no significant association with hospital stay.
Conclusion:
Among the evaluated markers, CRP was the most reliable predictor of prolonged hospital stay in acute pancreatitis. MPV may also provide limited prognostic information depending on the cut-off used. RDW and albumin were not found to be useful predictors in this context. These findings support the utility of CRP as a simple and accessible marker for early risk stratification in acute pancreatitis.
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