Red Cell Distribution Width and RDW/TSC Ratio may Effectively Predict Acute Pancreatitis Severity: Study

India: An observational cross-sectional
study demonstrates red
cell distribution width and RDW/TSC ratio are similar to the BISAP index as
predictors of severity in acute pancreatitis. The findings were published
online in The Journal of The Associations of Physicians of India
on July 01, 2024.

Acute pancreatitis occurs
when the pancreas becomes inflamed (swollen) for a short amount of time. It
involves acute pancreatic inflammation. The most prevalent causes of acute
pancreatitis include gallstones, alcohol consumption, and hypertriglyceridemia.
Symptoms may include fever, nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, and a bloated or
painful abdomen. Chiranth Shivakumar, Post Graduate Resident, Vardhman Mahavir
Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi, India, et.al conducted an
observational cross-sectional study to investigate red cell distribution width
and RDW/TSC ratio and are comparable to the BISAP index as predictors of
severity in acute pancreatitis.

For this purpose, the
research team conducted observational cross-sectional research of 85 patients
admitted to the medicine and surgical wards at VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital in
Delhi undertaken between December 2020 and June 2022. A history was taken, a
clinical examination was performed, and appropriate diagnostic tests were
ordered.

The study comprised 85
patients over the age of 18 who had been diagnosed with acute pancreatitis
using the new Atlanta classification. Then they divided into two groups. Those
with mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) and moderately severe/severe acute pancreatitis
AP (MSAP/SAP). Red cell distribution width was measured in all patients upon
admission and at the 24-hour mark.

The findings revealed
that:

• Of the 85 AP patients, 55 were diagnosed with
  MAP, 17 with MSAP and 13 with SAP.
• MSAP/SAP patients had significantly lower
  serum calcium levels compared to MAP patients.
• Patients with MSAP/SAP had significantly
  higher modified Marshall (MM) scores, bedside index for severity in acute
  pancreatitis (BISAP) index, RDW at 0 and 24 hours, and RDW/total serum calcium
  (RDW/TSC) ratios compared to MAP.
• The BISAP index was shown to be the most
  reliable predictor of severity, followed by MM. RDW/TSC also demonstrated good
  predictive value.
• RDW/TSC outperformed RDW at admission and 24
  hours in terms of predicting AP severity. However, no single parameter has been
  established as an independent meaningful predictor of AP.

“Red
cell distribution width and RDW/TSC ratio are as good predictors of AP severity
as the BISAP index is. They provide a low-cost and easily accessible method of
forecasting AP severity at the time of admission, allowing for early
intervention”, researchers concluded.

Reference