The Impact of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Pancreas Disease on Outcome of Acute Pancreatitis

The Impact of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Pancreas Disease on Outcome of Acute Pancreatitis

Obesity is a well-established risk factor for acute pancreatitis (AP). As for non-alcoholic fatty pancreas disease (NAFPD), it is evident that it is correlated with obesity. This is apparently the first study evaluating the association between NAFPD and severity of AP after taking into account several covariates.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common disease with a highly variable clinical course, which can range from a mild, self-limited disease to severe disease with a mortality rate of 10-20%. It is vital to distinguish severe cases early because they require more aggressive fluid resuscitation and early nutritional support.

Obesity is a well-established risk factor for acute pancreatitis (AP). It leads to ectopic fat accumulation in visceral organs, such as the liver, skeletal muscles, heart and pancreas.

Assuming that attenuation in the pancreas seen on unenhanced computed tomography (CT) scanning is inversely associated with severe outcomes in AP, we investigated the relationship between NAFPD and severity of AP and the significance of pancreas attenuation for the prognosis and mortality in AP patients. The result of this study suggest that decreased pancreas attenuation and P/S ratio are strong predictors of severe pancreatitis, mortality, systemic complication.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. diagnosed with AP
2. age>18y

Exclusion Criteria:

1. age<18y
2. missing data in the electronic medical record
3. prior attacks of AP
4. without spleen
5. with ambiguous pancreatic margin