OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of using plasma trypsinogen activation peptides (TAP) and serum interleukin-6(IL-6) as early markers for predicting the severity of experimental acute pancreatitis.

METHODSNinety male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were equally randomized into five groups: edema pancreatitis group, treated with retrograde ductal infusion of 3% sodium taurocholate solution; necrosis pancreatitis group, treated with retrograde ductal infusion of 5% sodium taurocholate solution; treatment pancreatitis group, treated with retrograde ductal infusion of 3% sodium taurocholate solution and ulinastatin intravenous infusion half an hour later; control pancreatitis group, treated with 0.9% normal saline retrograde ductal infusion; and sham operation group, treated with sham operation. Rats in each group were equally randomized into three subgroups, which were killed by exsanguination 3, 6, or 24 hours after infusion, and blood specimens were obtained. Serum amylase, plasma TAP, and serum IL-6 were determined. The severity of pancreatitis was scored by two blinded pathologists under microscope.

RESULTSAt 3 and 6 hours after infusion, plasma TAP concentration of necrosis pancreatitis group [(4.798±0.169) and (3.999±0.299)nmol/L, respectively]were significantly higher than those of edema pancreatitis group [(2.416±0.148) and (3.356±0.211)nmol/L, respectively] (P<0.01); at 6 hours after infusion, serum IL-6 level of necrosis pancreatitis group [(1339.51±56.43)pg/ml]was significantly higher than that of edema pancreatitis group [(619.07±42.25)pg/ml] (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIn this acute pancreatitis model, the peak levels of plasma TAP and serum IL-6 may appear earlier in rats with severer disease. Serum TAP level may be used as a marker for the accurate early prediction of the severity of acute pancreatitis.