Creatine Kinase as a Prognostic Parameter in Acute Pancreatitis

Abstract

An elevation of serum creatine kinase (CK) level during the first 48 hours after admission in patients with acute pancreatitis as a prognostic parameter has been made retrospectively, and the data has been compared with Ranson's criteria to predict the outcome of acute pancreatitis. Serum CK levels during the first 48 hours after admission were determined in 34 patients with acute pancreatitis. There were 26 patients with mild attacks and 8 patients with severe attacks. The mean value of serum CK level was 84.7±108 U/l (range: 9-478) in mild attacks, and 2023.5±2252 U/l (range: 85-6786) in severe attacks (P＜0.001). Nineteen out of 26 patients (73%) with mild attacks had normal serum CK levels, 7 out of 26 patients (27%) with mild attacks had increased serum CK levels, but the values were all less than 480 U/l (sixfold of the upper limit of normal range). Six out of 8 patients (75%) with severe attacks had serum CK levels higher than 480 U/l. The range of the Ranson's criteria was 0 to 3 in mild attacks, and 4 to 6 in severe attacks. There was a correlation between the serum CK levels and the severity of acute pancreatitis (r=0.5571, P=0.001). Because the high mortality rates in patients of acute pancreatitis with increased serum CK levels, serum CK levels during the first 48 hours after admission may be a valuable objective adjunct in the prediction of severe complication in patients with acute pancreatitis.