Serum D-dimer levels at admission for prediction of outcomes in acute pancreatitis

Systemic alterations in coagulation are associated with complications of acute pancreatitis (AP). D-dimer, a fibrin degradation product, was recently described as a marker of pancreatitis outcome. Early prediction is essential for reducing mortality in AP. The present study aims to assess the relationship between elevated serum D-dimer levels and the severity of AP.

We performed an observational retrospective study with data from 3451 enrolled patients with AP. Serum D-dimer levels were measured upon admission, after 24 h and during the week after admission by immunoturbidimetry. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine whether elevated D-dimer levels were independently associated with the severity of AP.

Of the 3451 AP patients, 2478 (71.8%) had serum D-dimer levels measured within 24 h of hospital admission; 1273 of these patients had D-dimer levels ≤2.5 mg/L, and 1205 had D-dimer levels > 2.5 mg/L (934 patients had mild AP (MAP); 1086, moderately severe AP (MSAP); and 458, severe AP (SAP)). Patients with D-dimer levels > 2.5 mg/L (n = 1205) had higher incidences of SAP (75.5% vs. 24.5%), acute peripancreatic fluid collection (APFC) (53.3% vs. 46.7%), acute necrotic collection (ANC) (72.4% vs. 27.6%), pancreatic necrosis (PN) (65.2% vs. 34.8%), infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) (77.7% vs. 22.8%), organ failure (OF) (68.5% vs. 31.5%), persistent organ failure (POF) (75.5% vs. 24.5%), ICU requirement (70.2% vs. 29.8%), and mortality (79.2% vs. 20.8%) than did patients with D-dimer levels ≤2.5 mg/L (n = 1273). The multivariate analysis showed that patients with higher serum D-dimer levels had poorer prognoses that worsened over time.

The measurement of D-dimer levels at admission may be useful for risk stratification of AP.