DefinePK

Abstract

Background: Acute pancreatitis is among the common gastrointestinal emergencies with inflammation of the pancreas and, for most, distant inflammatory responses. The early establishment of inflammation severity assists in guidance of management. The C-reactive protein has been proposed as one of the prospective biomarkers for the monitoring of inflammation, although its status as a diagnostic marker for acute pancreatitis remains uncertain among local populations. Objective: To determine the frequency of raised C reactive protein in patients with acute pancreatitis at Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Duration and Place of Study: This study was conducted from April 2024 to September 2024 in the Department of General Surgery at Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad. Methodology: A total of 114 patients aged 15–70 years diagnosed with acute pancreatitis based on clinical, biochemical, and ultrasound criteria were enrolled. Serum CRP was measured using the latex agglutination method, with values >10 mg/dL considered elevated. Demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic variables were documented and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Results: The mean age was 40.88±14.10 years, and 75.4% of patients were male. Elevated CRP was observed in 91.2% of patients. Statistically significant associations were found between CRP levels and socioeconomic status (p=0.025) as well as residential status (p=0.013). Conclusion: A high proportion of patients with acute pancreatitis had elevated C-reactive protein, supporting its utility as a rapid and accessible inflammatory marker.