Significance of changes of serum neopterin for patients with acute pancreatitis

Objective: To evaluate the clinical significance of changes of serum neopterin levels in patients with acute pancreatitis.Methods: Twenty-eight patients were divided into mild group and severe group.Their blood samples were obtained at 0,4th,8th and 14th day after admission and the APACHE Ⅱ scores were recorded.Results: Severe patients showed a high neopterin levels,and the correlation between the mean neopterin levels and APACHE Ⅱ was observed at 8th day and 14th day(P<0.05 and P<0.01).In addition,the serum neopterin levels of patients with fatal outcome were much higher than those of surviving patients at 8th day and 14th day(P<0.05 and P<0.001).Conclusions: The rise of neopterin level in patients with acute pancreatitis is related to the severity of pancreatitis.Measurement of serum neopterin may help to predict the severity and prognosis of patients with acute pancreatitis.