D-dimer, a predictor of  outcome of acute pancreatitis

Introduction
Defect in coagulation present even in the early stage of acute
pancreatitis. D-dimer is a small protein particle generated
during blood clot disintegration due to lysis of fibrin. It is an
accurate indicator of lysis of fibrin, so has an association with
the severity of pancreatic inflammation. The study was
undertaken to know the utility of d-dimer to forecast organ
failure or complications in acute pancreatitis.

Methodology
From June 2019 to Jan 2020, 50 patients of acute pancreatitis
were enrolled in this prospective study. Patients were
subjected to the d-dimer test within 24 hours after admission.
The patients were split into two groups; with organ failure
(complications) and without any complications. The result of
the d-dimer test was correlated with these groups.

Results
50 patients of acute pancreatitis were included in this study.
Organ failure or local complications observed included
impairment renal in 4 patients (16%), vasopressor
requirement in 4(8%), pulmonary dysfunction in 5 (10%) and
multiple organ failure syndrome (MODS) in 5 (10%). The
sensitivity of d-dimer was 75% and specificity was 90%.
Positive predictive value and negative predictive value of ddimer
were 91%, 74% respectively.

Conclusions
D-dimer is an accurate and cost-effective test to predict organ
failure or local complications in a patient of acute pancreatitis.