Elevated serum triglycerides are independently associated with persistent organ failure in acute pancreatitis

Pancreatic and cardiometabolic complications of severe hypertriglyceridaemia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review endeavours to explore the aetiopathogenesis and impact of severe hypertriglyceridemia (SHTG) and chylomicronaemia on cardiovascular, and pancreatic complications and summarizes the novel pharmacological options for management.

RECENT FINDINGS

SHTG, although rare, presents significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Familial chylomicronaemia syndrome (FCS), is the rare monogenic form of SHTG, associated with increased acute pancreatitis (AP) risk, whereas relatively common multifactorial chylomicronaemia syndrome (MCS) leans more towards cardiovascular complications. Despite the introduction and validation of the FCS Score, FCS continues to be underdiagnosed and diagnosis is often delayed. Longitudinal data on disease progression remains scant. SHTG-induced AP remains a life-threatening concern, with conservative treatment as the cornerstone while blood purification techniques offer limited additional benefit. Conventional lipid-lowering medications exhibit minimal efficacy, underscoring the growing interest in novel therapeutic avenues, that is, antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) and short interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting apolipoprotein C3 (ApoC3) and angiopoietin-like protein 3 and/or 8 (ANGPTL3/8).

SUMMARY

Despite advancements in understanding the genetic basis and pathogenesis of SHTG, diagnostic and therapeutic challenges persist. The rarity of FCS and the heterogenous phenotype of MCS underscore the need for the development of predictive models for complications and tailored personalized treatment strategies. The establishment of national and international registries is advocated to augment disease comprehension and identify high-risk individuals.

Diagnosis and stabilisation of familial chylomicronemia syndrome in two infants presenting with hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis

Familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) is a rare disorder of triglyceride (TG) metabolism caused by loss of function variants in one of five known canonical genes involved in chylomicron lipolysis and clearance-LPL, APOC2, APOA5, LMF1, and GPIHBP1. Pathogenic variants in LPL, which encodes the hydrolytic enzyme lipoprotein lipase, account for over 80%-90% of cases. FCS may present in infancy with hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis and is challenging to manage both acutely and in the long-term. Here, we report our experience managing two unrelated infants consecutively diagnosed with hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis caused by LPL deficiency. Both had elevated TGs at presentation (205 and 30 mmol/L, respectively) and molecular genetic testing confirmed each infant carried a different homozygous pathogenic variant in the LPL gene, specifically, c.987C>A (p.Tyr329Ter) and c.632C>A (p.Thr211Lys). The more severely affected infant had cutaneous xanthomata, lipemia retinalis and lipemic plasma at presentation, and required management in an intensive care setting. Acute stabilisation was achieved using insulin and heparin infusions together with the iterative implementation of a fat-restricted diet, low in long chain triglycerides (LCT) and supplemented with medium chain triglycerides (MCT). In both cases, provision of adequate caloric intake (~110-120 kcal/kg/day) was also found to be important for a sustained TG reduction during the acute phase of management. In summary, a high index of suspicion is required to diagnose FCS in infants with hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis, management of which can be challenging, highlighting the need for more evidence-based recommendations.

Clinical study of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis and acute biliary pancreatitis with persistent organ failure

BACKGROUND

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are novel inflammatory indicators that can be used to predict the severity and prognosis of various diseases. We categorize acute pancreatitis by etiology into acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP) and hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTGP).

AIM

To investigate the clinical significance of NLR and PLR in assessing persistent organ failure (POF) in HTGP and ABP.

METHODS

A total of 1450 patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis (AP) for the first time at Shanxi Bethune Hospital between January 2012 and January 2023 were enrolled. The patients were categorized into two groups according to the etiology of AP: ABP in 530 patients and HTGP in 241 patients. We collected and compared the clinical data of the patients, including NLR, PLR, and AP prognostic scoring systems, within 48 h of hospital admission.

RESULTS

The NLR (9.1 vs 6.9, P < 0.001) and PLR (203.1 vs 160.5, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the ABP group than in the HTGP group. In the HTGP group, both NLR and PLR were significantly increased in patients with severe AP and those with a SOFA score ≥ 3. Likewise, in the ABP group, NLR and PLR were significantly elevated in patients with severe AP, modified computed tomography severity index score ≥ 4, Japanese Severity Score ≥ 3, and modified Marshall score ≥ 2. Moreover, NLR and PLR showed predictive value for the development of POF in both the ABP and HTGP groups.

CONCLUSION

NLR and PLR vary between ABP and HTGP, are strongly associated with AP prognostic scoring systems, and have predictive potential for the occurrence of POF in both ABP and HTGP.

Development and Validation of a Nomogram for Predicting the Severity of the First Episode of Hyperlipidemic Acute Pancreatitis

Purpose

Early detection of hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis (HLAP) with exacerbation tendency is crucial for clinical decision-making and improving prognosis. The aim of this study was to establish a reliable model for the early prediction of HLAP severity.

Patients and Methods

A total of 225 patients with first-episode HLAP who were admitted to Fujian Medical University Union Hospital from June 2012 to June 2023 were included. Patients were divided into mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) or moderate-severe acute pancreatitis and severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP+SAP) groups. Independent predictors for progression to MSAP or SAP were identified through univariate analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression. A nomogram was established through multivariate logistic regression analysis to predict this progression. The calibration, receiver operating characteristic(ROC), and clinical decision curves were employed to evaluate the model's consistency, differentiation, and clinical applicability. Clinical data of 93 patients with first-episode HLAP who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from October 2015 to October 2022 were collected for external validation.

Results

White blood cell count, lactate dehydrogenase, albumin, serum creatinine, serum calcium, D-Dimer were identified as independent predictors for progression to MSAP or SAP in patients with HLAP and used to establish a predictive nomogram. The internally verified Harrell consistency index (C-index) was 0.908 (95% CI 0.867-0.948) and the externally verified C-index was 0.950 (95% CI 0.910-0.990). The calibration, ROC, and clinical decision curves showed this nomogram's good predictive ability.

Conclusion

We have established a nomogram that can help identify HLAP patients who are likely to develop MSAP or SAP at an early stage, with high discrimination and accuracy.

Olezarsen, Acute Pancreatitis, and Familial Chylomicronemia Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Familial chylomicronemia syndrome is a genetic disorder associated with severe hypertriglyceridemia and severe acute pancreatitis. Olezarsen reduces the plasma triglyceride level by reducing hepatic synthesis of apolipoprotein C-III.

METHODS

In a phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned patients with genetically identified familial chylomicronemia syndrome to receive olezarsen at a dose of 80 mg or 50 mg or placebo subcutaneously every 4 weeks for 49 weeks. There were two primary end points: the difference between the 80-mg olezarsen group and the placebo group in the percent change in the fasting triglyceride level from baseline to 6 months, and (to be assessed if the first was significant) the difference between the 50-mg olezarsen group and the placebo group. Secondary end points included the mean percent change from baseline in the apolipoprotein C-III level and an independently adjudicated episode of acute pancreatitis.

RESULTS

A total of 66 patients underwent randomization; 22 were assigned to the 80-mg olezarsen group, 21 to the 50-mg olezarsen group, and 23 to the placebo group. At baseline, the mean (±SD) triglyceride level among the patients was 2630±1315 mg per deciliter, and 71% had a history of acute pancreatitis within the previous 10 years. Triglyceride levels at 6 months were significantly reduced with the 80-mg dose of olezarsen as compared with placebo (-43.5 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -69.1 to -17.9; P<0.001) but not with the 50-mg dose (-22.4 percentage points; 95% CI, -47.2 to 2.5; P = 0.08). The difference in the mean percent change in the apolipoprotein C-III level from baseline to 6 months in the 80-mg group as compared with the placebo group was -73.7 percentage points (95% CI, -94.6 to -52.8) and between the 50-mg group as compared with the placebo group was -65.5 percentage points (95% CI, -82.6 to -48.3). By 53 weeks, 11 episodes of acute pancreatitis had occurred in the placebo group, and 1 episode had occurred in each olezarsen group (rate ratio [pooled olezarsen groups vs. placebo], 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.66). Adverse events of moderate severity that were considered by a trial investigator at the site to be related to the trial drug or placebo occurred in 4 patients in the 80-mg olezarsen group.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome, olezarsen may represent a new therapy to reduce plasma triglyceride levels. (Funded by Ionis Pharmaceuticals; Balance ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04568434.).

Liproxstatin-1 attenuates acute hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis through inhibiting ferroptosis in rats

Ferroptosis is closely associated with inflammatory diseases, including acute pancreatitis (AP); however, the involvement of ferroptosis in hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis (HTGP) remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to explore the relationship between lipid metabolism and ferroptosis in HTGP and the alleviating effect of liproxstatin-1 (Lip-1) in vivo. This study represents the first exploration of lipid metabolism and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in HTGP, targeting ferroptosis as a key factor in HTGP. Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) was induced under high-fat diet conditions. Cerulein was then injected to establish AP and HTGP models. Lip-1, a specific ferroptosis inhibitor, was administered before the induction of AP and HTGP in rats, respectively. Serum triglyceride, amylase, inflammatory factors, pathological and ultrastructural structures, lipid peroxidation, and iron overload indicators related to ferroptosis were tested. Moreover, the interaction between ferroptosis and ERS was assessed. We found HTG can exacerbate the development of AP, with an increased inflammatory response and intensified ferroptosis process. Lip-1 treatment can attenuate pancreatic injury by inhibiting ferroptosis through lipid metabolism and further resisting activations of ERS-related proteins. Totally, our results proved lipid metabolism can promote ferroptosis in HTGP by regulating ACSL4/LPCAT3 protein levels. Additionally, ERS may participate in ferroptosis via the Bip/p-EIF2α/CHOP pathway, followed by the alleviating effect of Lip-1 in the rat model.

Impact of therapeutic plasmapheresis on the duration of organ failure in patients with hypertriglyceridemia-associated acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Plasmapheresis is widely used for severe hypertriglyceridemia-associated acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) to remove excessive triglycerides from plasma. This study aimed to evaluate whether plasmapheresis could improve the duration of organ failure in HTG-AP patients.

METHODS

We analyzed a cohort of patients from a multicenter, prospective, long-running registry (the PERFORM) collecting HTG-AP patients admitted to the study sites within 72 h from the onset of symptoms. This study was based on data collected from November 2020 to March 2023. Patients who had organ failure at enrollment were involved in the analyses. The primary outcome was time to organ failure resolution within 14 days. Multivariable Cox regression model was used to evaluate the association between plasmapheresis and time to organ failure resolution. Directed acyclic graph (DAG) was used to identify potential confounders.

RESULTS

A total of 122 HTG-AP patients were included (median [IQR] sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score at enrollment, 3.00 [2.00-4.00]). Among the study patients, 46 underwent plasmapheresis, and 76 received medical treatment. The DAG revealed that baseline serum triglyceride, APACHE II score, respiratory failure, cardiovascular failure, and renal failure were potential confounders. After adjusting for the selected confounders, there was no significant difference in time to organ failure resolution between patients undergoing plasmapheresis and those receiving exclusive medical treatment (HR = 1.07; 95%CI 0.68-1.68; P = 0.777). Moreover, the use of plasmapheresis was associated with higher ICU requirements (97.8% [45/46] vs. 65.8% [50/76]; OR, 19.33; 95%CI 2.20 to 169.81; P = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

In HTG-AP patients with early organ failure, plasmapheresis was not associated with accelerated organ failure resolution compared to medical treatment but may be associated with more ICU admissions.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The PERFORM study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000039541). Registered 30 October 2020.

Acute pancreatitis associated with pembrolizumab-induced hypertriglyceridemia

INTRODUCTION

Acute pancreatitis (AP) following drug-induced hypertriglyceridemia is a rare clinical phenomenon. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized treatment for a variety of solid organ and hematological malignancies. Pembrolizumab is a programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitor that has shown promising responses in many advanced cancers. However, a constellation of immune-related adverse events has also been described. There are reports of pembrolizumab-induced hypertriglyceridemia, but AP as a result of this side effect remains an exceedingly rare clinical sequela.

CASE REPORT

We delineate a case of a patient with stage IVB non-small-cell lung cancer who developed progressive abdominal pain and nausea following administration of pembrolizumab for four months. Laboratory studies revealed increased serum lipase and triglyceride levels at 12,562 IU/L and 16,901 mg/dL, respectively. The diagnosis of AP was made based on the revised Atlanta classification criteria. After ruling out alternative causes, pembrolizumab-induced hypertriglyceridemia was considered the likely etiology of AP.

MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME

The patient was transferred to the medical intensive care unit for close monitoring. Treatment was initiated with intravenous fluids, pain medications, and an insulin infusion. However, her hypertriglyceridemia levels remained persistently elevated, necessitating therapeutic apheresis. She recovered well with no complications after triglyceride apheresis.

DISCUSSION

AP following pembrolizumab-associated hypertriglyceridemia remains a rare clinicopathologic entity. Given the widespread clinical use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, knowledge of such rare adverse events is crucial. Evaluation of serum triglyceride levels before and after initiating pembrolizumab therapy may be mandated, especially in patients with metabolic comorbidities.

Acute pancreatitis secondary to moderate hypertriglyceridemia: A case report

Key Clinical Message

It is crucial to remain vigilant about acute pancreatitis, even in cases with moderately elevated triglycerides. Triglycerides as a cause of acute pancreatitis must be considered even in the absence of other risk factors.

Abstract

Hypertriglyceridemia is one of the most common causes of acute pancreatitis (AP), with triglyceride levels greater than 1000 mg/dL being an established risk factor for AP. Cases of acute pancreatitis due to triglyceride levels less than 1000 mg/dL have rarely been reported in the literature. We report a case of a 26-year-old para-2, living-2 (P2L2) female who presented with epigastric pain and fever, with a serum triglyceride level of 579 mg/dL. A diagnosis of acute pancreatitis was made based on the clinical features and radiological findings, despite no identifiable risk factors. Hypertriglyceridemia was managed with no complications of acute pancreatitis during treatment.

Serum lipase in acute pancreatitis associated with hypertriglyceridaemia

The incidence of hypertriglyceridaemic pancreatitis is increasing. Hypertriglyceridaemia may be associated with false lowering of serum amylase and lipase in vitro. A retrospective study of serum lipase levels in 26 individuals who had acute pancreatitis diagnosed based on clinical criteria together with changes on computer tomography in the setting of severe hypertriglyceridaemia over a 5-year period from January 2017 to December 2021 was performed. Serum lipase levels were in the normal range in two patients (7.7%) and less than three times the upper end of the reference interval in 11 individuals (42%). Awareness of the potential for normal and nonsignificantly elevated serum lipase levels in the setting of hypertriglyceridaemic pancreatitis is important to avoid a missed diagnosis, to enable appropriate short- and long-term management and to prevent recurrent episodes.

Identification of novel biomarkers based on lipid metabolism-related molecular subtypes for moderately severe and severe acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an unpredictable and potentially fatal disorder. A derailed or unbalanced immune response may be the root of the disease's severe course. Disorders of lipid metabolism are highly correlated with the occurrence and severity of AP. We aimed to characterize the contribution and immunological characteristics of lipid metabolism-related genes (LMRGs) in non-mild acute pancreatitis (NMAP) and identify a robust subtype and biomarker for NMAP.

METHODS

The expression mode of LMRGs and immune characteristics in NMAP were examined. Then LMRG-derived subtypes were identified using consensus clustering. The weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was utilized to determine hub genes and perform functional enrichment analyses. Multiple machine learning methods were used to build the diagnostic model for NMAP patients. To validate the predictive effectiveness, nomograms, receiver operating characteristic (ROC), calibration, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used. Using gene set variation analysis (GSVA) and single-cell analysis to study the biological roles of model genes.

RESULTS

Dysregulated LMRGs and immunological responses were identified between NMAP and normal individuals. NMAP individuals were divided into two LMRG-related subtypes with significant differences in biological function. The cluster-specific genes are primarily engaged in the regulation of defense response, T cell activation, and positive regulation of cytokine production. Moreover, we constructed a two-gene prediction model with good performance. The expression of CARD16 and MSGT1 was significantly increased in NMAP samples and positively correlated with neutrophil and mast cell infiltration. GSVA results showed that they are mainly upregulated in the T cell receptor complex, immunoglobulin complex circulating, and some immune-related routes. Single-cell analysis indicated that CARD16 was mainly distributed in mixed immune cells and macrophages, and MGST1 was mainly distributed in exocrine glandular cells.

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents a novel approach to categorizing NMAP into different clusters based on LMRGs and developing a reliable two-gene biomarker for NMAP.

Red cell distribution width: A predictor of the severity of hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Compared with patients with other causes of acute pancreatitis, those with hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) are more likely to develop persistent organ failure (POF). Therefore, recognizing the individuals at risk of developing POF early in the HTG-AP process is a vital for improving outcomes. Bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis (BISAP), a simple parameter that is obtained 24 h after admission, is an ideal index to predict HTG-AP severity; however, the suboptimal sensitivity limits its clinical application. Hence, current clinical scoring systems and biochemical parameters are not sufficient for predicting HTG-AP severity.

AIM

To elucidate the early predictive value of red cell distribution width (RDW) for POF in HTG-AP.

METHODS

In total, 102 patients with HTG-AP were retrospectively enrolled. Demographic and clinical data, including RDW, were collected from all patients on admission.

RESULTS

Based on the Revised Atlanta Classification, 37 (33%) of 102 patients with HTG-AP were diagnosed with POF. On admission, RDW was significantly higher in patients with HTG-AP and POF than in those without POF (14.4% vs 12.5%, P < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve demonstrated a good discriminative power of RDW for POF with a cutoff of 13.1%, where the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity were 0.85, 82.4%, and 77.9%, respectively. When the RDW was ≥ 13.1% and one point was added to the original BISAP to obtain a new BISAP score, we achieved a higher AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.89, 91.2%, and 67.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

RDW is a promising predictor of POF in patients with HTG-AP, and the addition of RDW can promote the sensitivity of BISAP.

Influence of enlarged waist circumference and hypertriglyceridemia in the severity of acute pancreatitis: A retrospective study

INTRODUCTION

Acute pancreatitis is a frequent inflammatory gastrointestinal disorder with high mortality rates in severe forms. An early evaluation of its severity is key to identify high-risk patients. This study assessed the influence of waist circumference together with hypertriglyceridemia on the severity of acute pancreatitis.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed, which included patients admitted with acute pancreatitis from March 2014 to March 2021. Patients were classified into four phenotype groups according to their waist circumference and triglyceride levels: normal waist circumference and normal triglycerides; normal waist circumference and elevated triglycerides; enlarged waist circumference and normal triglycerides; and enlarged waist circumference and triglycerides, namely hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTGW) phenotype. Clinical outcomes were compared among the groups.

RESULTS

407 patients were included. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and intensive care unit admission were most frequent among patients in the HTGW phenotype group, at 44.9% and 8.2%, respectively. The incidence of local complications was higher in the normal waist circumference with elevated triglycerides group (27%). On multivariable analysis, an enlarged waist circumference was related to an increase of 4% and 2% in the likelihood of developing organ failure and SIRS, respectively. Hypertriglyceridemia was an independent risk factor for both organ failure and local complications.

CONCLUSIONS

HTGW phenotype was significant related to developing of SIRS. It seems that an enlarged waist circumference has a greater role than hypertriglyceridemia in the development of SIRS. Obesity and hypertriglyceridemia were both independent risk factors for organ failure. Patients with hypertriglyceridemia were more likely to develop local complications.

Clinical characteristics of three distinct types of pancreatitis with overlapping etiologies: A ten-year retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is frequently observed in non-HTG-induced acute pancreatitis (AP), such as in the early stage of acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP). There is overlap in the etiologies of ABP, HTG-AP, and biliary-hypertriglyceridemia acute pancreatitis (BHAP), which may be perplexing for clinicians.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 394 AP patients. The patients were divided into three groups based on etiology. We analyzed the differences among the three groups of patients in terms of general information, laboratory parameters, and prognosis.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients in the ABP group was significantly higher than that in the HTG-AP and BHAP groups (p < 0.001). Females made up a greater percentage of the ABP group, whereas males made up the majority in the HTG-AP and BHAP groups. The ABP group had the highest PCT, AMS, LPS, ALT, AST, GGT, TBIL, DBIL, APACHE II, and BISAP scores. TG and BMI were highest in the HTG-AP group. AST and GGT levels were substantially greater in BHAP patients than those in HTG-AP. The BHAP group had the greatest incidence of organ failure, systemic complications, and local complications.

CONCLUSION

ABP usually develops in people aged 50-59 years. HTG-AP primarily affects people aged 30-39 years. However, the peak incidence age of BHAP falls between the two aforementioned age groups (40-49 years). We also found that patients with BHAP seem to be in an intermediate state in terms of some biochemical markers and demographic characteristics. Furthermore, BHAP may have the worst clinical outcomes compared with HTG-AP and ABP.

Lipid-lowering therapy for hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis: Recent advances

With the improvement of the living standard, hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) has become the second major cause of acute pancreatitis (AP) in China. Hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) has its own unique characteristics. First, the elevation of blood amylase and lipase levels is not significant. Second, the severity of the disease positively correlates with blood triglyceride (TG) level. The goal of treatment of HTG-AP is to lower blood lipids rapidly. Common lipid-lowering methods include dietary modification, lipid-lowering drugs, low-molecular heparin combined with insulin, blood purification, and combined Chinese and Western medicine. This article reviews the recent advances on lipid-lowering approaches used in HTG-AP patients.

Gut microbiota aggravates neutrophil extracellular traps-induced pancreatic injury in hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis

Hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis (HTGP) is featured by higher incidence of complications and poor clinical outcomes. Gut microbiota dysbiosis is associated with pancreatic injury in HTGP and the mechanism remains unclear. Here, we observe lower diversity of gut microbiota and absence of beneficial bacteria in HTGP patients. In a fecal microbiota transplantation mouse model, the colonization of gut microbiota from HTGP patients recruits neutrophils and increases neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation that exacerbates pancreatic injury and systemic inflammation. We find that decreased abundance of Bacteroides uniformis in gut microbiota impairs taurine production and increases IL-17 release in colon that triggers NETs formation. Moreover, Bacteroides uniformis or taurine inhibits the activation of NF-κB and IL-17 signaling pathways in neutrophils which harness NETs and alleviate pancreatic injury. Our findings establish roles of endogenous Bacteroides uniformis-derived metabolic and inflammatory products on suppressing NETs release, which provides potential insights of ameliorating HTGP through gut microbiota modulation.

Low-grade inflammation for predicting severe acute pancreatitis in patients with hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to evaluate the association between low-grade inflammation (LGI) and the severity of hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 311 patients with HTG-AP who were admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology, Fujian Provincial Hospital between April 2012 and March 2021. Inpatient medical and radiological records were reviewed to collect the clinical manifestations, disease severity, and comorbidities. C-reactive protein (CRP) level, white blood cell (WBC) count, platelet (PLT) count, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were considered LGI components and were combined to calculate a standardized LGI score. The association between the LGI score and the severity of HTG-AP was analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Of the 311 patients with HTG-AP, 47 (15.1%) had mild acute pancreatitis (MAP), 184 (59.2%) had moderately severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP), and 80 (25.7%) had severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), respectively. Patients with MSAP and SAP had a higher LGI score than those with MAP (1.50 vs -6.00, P < 0.001). Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with LGI scores in the fourth quartile were more likely to have MSAP and SAP (odds ratio [OR] 21.925, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.014-95.867, P < 0.001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that low calcium (OR 0.105, 95% CI 0.011-0.969, P = 0.047) and high LGI score (OR 1.253, 95% CI 1.066-1.473, P = 0.006) were associated with MSAP and SAP. When predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis, the LGI score had the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (0.7737) compared to its individual components.

CONCLUSION

An elevated LGI score was associated with a higher risk of SAP in patients with HTG-AP.

Activation of AMPK ameliorates acute severe pancreatitis by suppressing pancreatic acinar cell necroptosis in obese mice models

Obese people with acute pancreatitis (AP) have an increased risk of developing severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), which prolongs the length of hospital stay and increases mortality. Thus, elucidation of the mechanisms through which SAP occurs in obese individuals will provide clues for possible treatment targets. Differences in early events in obese or lean patients with AP have not been conclusively reported. We selected C57BL/6 mice as lean mice models, ob/ob mice or diet induced obese (DIO) mice as obese mice models and then induced experimental AP in mice via injections of caerulein. There were suppressed p-AMPK expressions in the pancreas of obese mice, compared with same-age lean C57BL/6 mice, which were further reduced in AP mice models. Obese AP mice were treated using AICAR, a direct AMPK agonist, which prevented pancreatic damage and cell death, suppressed pancreatic enzyme levels in serum, reduced the areas of fat saponification in the peritoneal cavity, prevented injury in other organs and decreased mice mortality rate. Further assays showed that AICAR activates p-AMPK to stabilize pro-caspase-8. Pro-caspase-8 enhances RIPK3 degradation, inhibits pancreatic acinar cell necroptosis, and downregulates the release of pancreatic enzymes. Thus, activation of AMPK by AICAR alleviates pancreatic acinar cell necroptosis and converts SAP to mild acute pancreatitis in obese mice.

Relationship of circulating levels of long-chain fatty acids to persistent organ failure in acute pancreatitis

During acute pancreatitis (AP), free fatty acids (FFAs) are liberated from circulating triglycerides (TG) and injured adipocytes by pancreatic lipase. Circulating FFAs have been suspected as a source of systemic lipotoxicity in AP. However, assessment of FFAs is difficult and time-consuming, and little is known about relative levels of FFAs between patients with different severities of AP and controls. This study's aims were to assess early circulating levels of FFAs, (both saturated and unsaturated) in patients with AP vs. controls, and associations between FFA levels and AP severity. Serum samples from patients with AP were collected at enrollment (day 1 of hospital stay); serum samples were also collected from controls. FFAs including palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acid were extracted and quantitated using gas chromatography separation. Severity of AP was determined by Revised Atlanta Classification. Differences in FFA levels and percentages of total FFAs were assessed between patients with AP and controls and patients with AP of different severity grades. A total of 93 patients with AP (48 female, 52%) and 29 controls (20 female, 69%) were enrolled. Of the patients with AP, 74 had mild/moderate and 19 had severe AP. Serum levels of all FFAs except stearic acid were significantly higher in patients with AP compared with controls. A strong and independent association between elevated palmitoleic acid levels and severe AP was found. Serum unsaturated FFA levels, specifically palmitoleic acid, appear to correlate with severe AP. These findings have potential clinical implications for targeted AP therapies.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Drivers of the inflammatory response in acute pancreatitis remain incompletely understood. Unsaturated fatty acids, specifically palmitoleic, appear to have an association with more severe acute pancreatitis. This finding presents a new clinical understanding of fatty acid toxicity and highlights a potential future target for treatment in severe acute pancreatitis.

Hypertriglyceridemia as a risk factor for complications of acute pancreatitis and the development of a severity prediction model

BACKGROUND

Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is a major cause of acute pancreatitis (AP). We aimed to determine whether HTG is an independent risk factor for AP complications and construct a prediction model for non-mild AP.

METHODS

We conducted a multi-center cohort study including 872 patients with AP and divided them into HTG-AP and non-HTG-AP groups. Multivariate logistic regression was performed, and a prediction model for non-mild HTG-AP was developed.

RESULTS

HTG-AP patients had a higher risk of systemic complications, including systemic inflammatory response syndrome [odds ratio (OR): 1.718; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.286-2.295], shock (OR: 2.103; 95%CI: 1.236-3.578), acute respiratory distress syndrome (OR: 2.231; 95%CI: 1.555-3.200), acute renal failure (OR: 1.593; 95%CI: 1.036-2.450), and local complications such as acute peripancreatic fluid collection (OR: 2.072; 95%CI: 1.550-2.771), acute necrotic collection (OR: 1.996; 95%CI: 1.394-2.856), and walled-off necrosis (OR: 2.157; 95%CI: 1.202-3.870). The area under curve of our prediction model was 0.898 (95%CI: 0.857-0.940) and 0.875 (95%CI: 0.804-0.946) in the derivation and validation datasets respectively.

CONCLUSION

HTG is an independent risk factor for AP complications. We constructed a simple and accurate prediction model for progression of non-mild AP.

Medical management of hypertriglyceridemia in pancreatitis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) should be considered in all cases of acute pancreatitis and triglyceride levels measured early, so that appropriate early and long-term treatment can be initiated.

RECENT FINDINGS

In most cases of HTG-AP, conservative management (nothing by mouth, intravenous fluid resuscitation and analgesia) is sufficient to achieve triglyceride levels less than 500 mg/dl. Intravenous insulin and plasmapheresis are sometimes used, although prospective studies showing clinical benefits are lacking. Pharmacological management of hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) should start early and target triglyceride levels of less than 500 mg/dl to reduce the risk or recurrent acute pancreatitis. In addition to currently used fenofibrate and omega-3 fatty acids, several novel agents are being studied for long-term treatment of HTG. These emerging therapies focus mainly on modifying the action of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) through inhibition of apolipoprotein CIII and angiopoietin-like protein 3. Dietary modifications and avoidance of secondary factors that worsen triglyceride levels should also be pursued. In some cases of HTG-AP, genetic testing may help personalize management and improve outcomes.

SUMMARY

Patients with HTG-AP require acute and long-term management of HTG with the goal of reducing and maintaining triglyceride levels to less than 500 mg/dl.

Diabetic lipemia as a predisposing state to acute pancreatitis: a case report and literature review

Hypertriglyceridemia has been recognized as a common complication of diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA), whereas severe hypertriglyceridemia, also known as diabetic lipemia, rarely occurs and is associated with an increasing risk of acute pancreatitis. We report the case of a 4-year-old girl with new-onset DKA associated with remarkable hypertriglyceridemia. Her serum triglyceride (TG) level was as high as 2490 mg/dL on admission and 11,072 mg/dL on day two during treatment with hydration and intravenous insulin infusion, whereas the critical situation was successfully stabilized by standard treatment for DKA without the occurrence of pancreatitis. We reviewed 27 cases of diabetic lipemia with or without pancreatitis that were described in the relevant literature to identify risk factors for the occurrence of pancreatitis in children with DKA. As a result, the severity of hypertriglyceridemia or ketoacidosis, age at onset, type of diabetes, and presence of systemic hypotension, were not associated with the development of pancreatitis; however, the occurrence of pancreatitis in girls over 10 years old tended to be higher than that in boys. The serum TG levels and DKA successfully normalized in most of the cases with insulin infusion therapy with hydration, without other specific treatments (e.g., heparin therapy and plasmapheresis). We conclude that the occurrence of acute pancreatitis in diabetic lipemia could be avoided with appropriate hydration and insulin therapy, without specific treatment for hypertriglyceridemia.

Early Plasmapheresis Among Patients With Hypertriglyceridemia-Associated Acute Pancreatitis

Importance

The incidence of hypertriglyceridemia-associated acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) is increasing. Plasmapheresis is theoretically effective in removing triglyceride from plasma, but whether it confers clinical benefits is unclear.

Objective

To assess the association between plasmapheresis and the incidence and duration of organ failure among patients with HTG-AP.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This is an a priori analysis of data from a multicenter, prospective cohort study with patients enrolled from 28 sites across China. Patients with HTG-AP were admitted within 72 hours from the disease onset. The first patient was enrolled on November 7th, 2020, and the last on November 30th, 2021. The follow-up of the 300th patient was completed on January 30th, 2022. Data were analyzed from April to May 2022.

Exposures

Receiving plasmapheresis. The choice of triglyceride-lowering therapies was at the discretion of the treating physicians.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was organ failure-free days to 14 days of enrollment. Secondary outcomes included other measures for organ failure, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, duration of ICU and hospital stays, incidence of infected pancreatic necrosis, and 60-day mortality. Propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analyses were used to control potential confounders.

Results

Overall, 267 patients with HTG-AP were enrolled (185 [69.3%] were male; median [IQR] age, 37 [31-43] years), among whom 211 underwent conventional medical treatment and 56 underwent plasmapheresis. PSM created 47 pairs of patients with balanced baseline characteristics. In the matched cohort, no difference was detected concerning organ failure-free days between patients undergoing plasmapheresis or not (median [IQR], 12.0 [8.0-14.0] vs 13.0 [8.0-14.0]; P = .94). Moreover, more patients in the plasmapheresis group required ICU admission (44 [93.6%] vs 24 [51.1%]; P < .001). The IPTW results conformed to the results from the PSM analysis.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this large multicenter cohort study of patients with HTG-AP, plasmapheresis was commonly used to lower plasma triglyceride. However, after adjusting for confounders, plasmapheresis was not associated with the incidence and duration of organ failure, but with increased ICU requirements.

Early prediction of acute respiratory distress syndrome complicated by acute pancreatitis based on four machine learning models

BACKGROUND

Acute Respiratory Distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common complication of Acute Pancreatitis (AP) and is associated with high mortality. This study used Machine Learning (ML) to predict ARDS in patients with AP at admission.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively analyzed the data from patients with AP from January 2017 to August 2022. Clinical and laboratory parameters with significant differences between patients with and without ARDS were screened by univariate analysis. Then, Support Vector Machine (SVM), Ensembles of Decision Trees (EDTs), Bayesian Classifier (BC), and nomogram models were constructed and optimized after feature screening based on these parameters. Five-fold cross-validation was used to train each model. A test set was used to evaluate the predictive performance of the four models.

RESULTS

A total of 83 (18.04%) of 460 patients with AP developed ARDS. Thirty-one features with significant differences between the groups with and without ARDS in the training set were used for modeling. The Partial Pressure of Oxygen (PaO₂), C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, lactic acid, Ca²⁺, the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio, white blood cell count, and amylase were identified as the optimal subset of features. The BC algorithm had the best predictive performance with the highest AUC value (0.891) than SVM (0.870), EDTs (0.813), and the nomogram (0.874) in the test set. The EDT algorithm achieved the highest accuracy (0.891), precision (0.800), and F1 score (0.615), but the lowest FDR (0.200) and the second-highest NPV (0.902).

CONCLUSIONS

A predictive model of ARDS complicated by AP was successfully developed based on ML. Predictive performance was evaluated by a test set, for which BC showed superior predictive performance and EDTs could be a more promising prediction tool for larger samples.

Severe, Complicated Pancreatitis With an Unclear Etiology

Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory process. There can be many causes of pancreatitis, which include alcohol or gallstones but can also be due to hypercalcemia, infections, or hypertriglyceridemia. Most cases of pancreatitis are mild and without complications. Severe cases of pancreatitis can cause complications, including organ failure. Pseudocysts are a rare complication of pancreatitis and may require management. We present a patient with severe acute pancreatitis with organ failure admitted to the intensive care unit, stabilized, and required subsequent management of a pseudocyst with cystogastrostomy with a lumen-apposing metal stent. The patient subsequently improved and is doing well today. Herein, we present an acute severe pancreatitis case report with an extensive workup complicated by pseudocyst development. We review pancreatitis causes, including rare causes and management.

Alcohol Consumption within 48 hours before Onset Is Associated with Adverse Clinical Outcomes in Hypertriglyceridemic Pancreatitis

(1) Background: Some patients with hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis (HTGP) drink occasionally or moderately, but do not meet the diagnostic criteria for alcoholic pancreatitis. This study aims to investigate whether occasional or moderate alcohol consumption affects the clinical outcomes of patients with HTGP. (2) Methods: This retrospective study included 373 patients with HTGP from January 2007 to December 2021. HTGP patients with occasional or moderate alcohol (OMA) consumption before onset were divided into the OMA group, and HTGP patients without alcohol (WA) consumption were divided into the WA group. The OMA group was further divided into two groups: the drinking within 48 h before onset (DW) group, and the without drinking within 48 h before onset (WDW) group. The clinical data of the two groups were compared and multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze independent risk factors for the primary outcomes. (3) Results: The proportion of men (95.7% vs. 67.6%, p < 0.001) and smoking history (61.7% vs. 15.1%, p < 0.001) in the OMA group were higher than those in the WA group. Occasional or moderate alcohol consumption was independently associated with a high incidence of SAP (adjusted odds ratio (AdjOR), 1.57; 95% CI, 1.02–2.41; p = 0.041), and necrotizing pancreatitis (AdjOR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.04–2.48; p = 0.034). After dividing the OMA group into two subgroups, we found that drinking within 48 h before onset was independently associated with a high incidence of SAP (AdjOR, 3.09; 95% CI, 1.66–5.77; p < 0.001), and necrotizing pancreatitis (AdjOR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.46–5.05; p = 0.002). (4) Conclusion: Occasional or moderate alcohol consumption is associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with HTGP, particularly if they drank alcohol within 48 h before the onset of the disease.

Mechanisms linking hypertriglyceridemia to acute pancreatitis

Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is a metabolic disorder, defined when serum or plasma triglyceride concentration (seTG) is >1.7 mM. HTG can be categorized as mild to very severe groups based on the seTG value. The risk of acute pancreatitis (AP), a serious disease with high mortality and without specific therapy, increases with the degree of HTG. Furthermore, even mild or moderate HTG aggravates AP initiated by other important etiological factors, including alcohol or bile stone. This review briefly summarizes the pathophysiology of HTG, the epidemiology of HTG-induced AP and the clinically observed effects of HTG on the outcomes of AP. Our main focus is to discuss the pathophysiological mechanisms linking HTG to AP. HTG is accompanied by an increased serum fatty acid (FA) concentration, and experimental results have demonstrated that these FAs have the most prominent role in causing the consequences of HTG during AP. FAs inhibit mitochondrial complexes in pancreatic acinar cells, induce pathological elevation of intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration, cytokine release and tissue injury, and reduce the function of pancreatic ducts. Furthermore, high FA concentrations can induce respiratory, kidney, and cardiovascular failure in AP. All these effects may contribute to the observed increased AP severity and frequent organ failure in patients. Importantly, experimental results suggest that the reduction of FA production by lipase inhibitors can open up new therapeutic options of AP. Overall, investigating the pathophysiology of HTG-induced AP or AP in the presence of HTG and determining possible treatments are needed.

COVID-19, Hypertriglyceridemia, and Acute Pancreatitis: A Case Report and Clinical Considerations

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a serious condition that can result in numerous negative outcomes including death. The underlying causes of AP are varied, with both COVID-19 and hypertriglyceridemia being documented in the medical literature. Here, we present the case of a young man with a pre-existing diagnosis of prediabetes and class 1 obesity who developed severe hypertriglyceridemia, AP, and mild diabetic ketoacidosis while concurrently infected with COVID-19. It is crucial for healthcare providers to be vigilant in recognizing the potential complications associated with COVID-19, regardless of whether the patient has received a vaccination.

The role of high serum triglyceride levels on pancreatic necrosis development and related complications

BACKGROUND

The relevance of elevated serum triglyceride (TG) levels in the early stages of acute pancreatitis (AP) not induced by hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) remains unclear. Our study aims to determine the role of elevated serum TG levels at admission in developing pancreatic necrosis.

METHODS

We analyzed the clinical data collected prospectively from patients with AP. According to TG levels measured in the first 24 h after admission, we stratified patients into four groups: Normal TG (< 150 mg/dL), Borderline-high TG (150-199 mg/dL), High TG (200-499 mg/dL) and Very high TG (≥ 500 mg/dL). We analyzed the association of TG levels and other risk factors with the development of pancreatic necrosis.

RESULTS

A total of 211 patients were included. In the Normal TG group: 122, in Borderline-high TG group: 38, in High TG group: 44, and in Very high TG group: 7. Pancreatic necrosis developed in 29.5% of the patients in the Normal TG group, 26.3% in the Borderline-high TG group, 52.3% in the High TG group, and 85.7% in the Very high TG group. The trend analysis observed a significant association between higher TG levels and pancreatic necrosis (p = 0.001). A multivariable analysis using logistic regression showed that elevated TG levels ≥ 200 mg/dL (High TG and Very high TG groups) were independently associated with pancreatic necrosis (OR: 3.27, 95% CI - 6.27, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

An elevated TG level at admission ≥ 200 mg/dl is independently associated with the development of pancreatic necrosis. The incidence of pancreatic necrosis increases proportionally with the severity of HTG.

Relationship between Cholesterol-Related Lipids and Severe Acute Pancreatitis: From Bench to Bedside

It is well known that hypercholesterolemia in the body has pro-inflammatory effects through the formation of inflammasomes and augmentation of TLR (Toll-like receptor) signaling, which gives rise to cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative diseases. However, the interaction between cholesterol-related lipids and acute pancreatitis (AP) has not yet been summarized before. This hinders the consensus on the existence and clinical importance of cholesterol-associated AP. This review focuses on the possible interaction between AP and cholesterol-related lipids, which include total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and apolipoprotein (Apo) A1, from the bench to the bedside. With a higher serum level of total cholesterol, LDL-C is associated with the severity of AP, while the persistent inflammation of AP is allied with a decrease in serum levels of cholesterol-related lipids. Therefore, an interaction between cholesterol-related lipids and AP is postulated. Cholesterol-related lipids should be recommended as risk factors and early predictors for measuring the severity of AP. Cholesterol-lowering drugs may play a role in the treatment and prevention of AP with hypercholesterolemia.

Bioinformatic Analyses of Peripheral Blood Transcriptome Identify Altered Neutrophil-Related Pathway and Different Transcriptomic Profiles for Acute Pancreatitis in Patients with and without Chylomicronemia Syndrome

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a serious inflammatory condition of the pancreas that can be associated with chylomicronemia syndrome (CS). Currently, no study has explored the differences between non-CS-associated AP and CS-associated AP in terms of gene expression. Transcriptomic profiles of blood samples from patients with AP were retrieved from GSE194331 (non-CS-associated) and GSE149607 (CS-associated). GSE31568 was used to examine the linkage between non-CS-associated AP and the expression of micro RNAs (miRNAs). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, a gene regulatory network was constructed, and hub genes were defined. Subsequently, single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) scores of hub genes were calculated to represent their regulatory-level activity. A total of 1851 shared DEGs were identified between non-CS-associated and CS-associated AP. Neutrophils were significantly enriched in both conditions. In non-CS-associated AP, miRNAs including hsa-miR-21, hsa-miR-146a, and hsa-miR-106a demonstrated a lower expression level as compared with the healthy control. Furthermore, the expression patterns and regulatory activities were largely opposite between non-CS-associated and CS-associated AP, with significantly lower estimated neutrophils in the latter case. In summary, we found that the regulation of neutrophils was altered in AP. There was a different gene expression pattern and lower estimated neutrophil infiltration in CS-associated AP. Whether these findings are clinically significant requires further investigation.

Dysregulated B7H4/JAK2/STAT3 Pathway Involves in Hypertriglyceridemia Acute Pancreatitis and Is Attenuated by Baicalin

BACKGROUND

Patients with hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) are prone to develop more severe acute pancreatitis (AP). However, the specific molecular mechanism still has not been elaborated clearly, and effective drugs for treating HTG-AP are not yet readily available. Baicalin is an ingredient isolated from a natural product that with potential to attenuate inflammation and pain in AP.

AIMS

The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of baicalin on HTG-AP and the possible mechanism involved.

METHODS

A mouse model of HTG-AP was successfully established by administering Poloxamer 407 and L-arginine intraperitoneally. We analyzed pathological changes, and performed TUNEL staining, DHE staining, and western blot to detect apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and B7H4/JAK2/STAT3 signaling in the pancreas.

RESULTS

Treatment with baicalin decreased serum triglyceride, cholesterol, lipase, amylase levels, and attenuated pancreatic edema. After intervention with baicalin, apoptosis and inflammation in HTG-AP mice were alleviated, as indicated by the decrease of Bax, cleaved-caspase-3, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β. Baicalin also alleviated oxidative stress by decreasing NOX2, increasing SOD2 protein expression, and regulating Nrf2/Keap1 signaling in HTG-AP mice. Furthermore, baicalin decreased the upregulated B7H4/JAK2/STAT3 pathway in HTG-AP.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, our data suggested that baicalin could attenuate HTG-AP, possibly through regulating B7H4/JAK2/STAT3 signaling.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors of organ failure and death in necrotizing pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Organ failure (OF) and death are considered the most significant adverse outcomes in necrotizing pancreatitis (NP). However, there are few NP-related studies describing the clinical traits of OF and aggravated outcomes.

PURPOSE

An improved insight into the details of OF and death will be helpful to the management of NP. Thus, in our research, we addressed the risk factors of OF and death in NP patients.

METHODS

We performed a study of 432 NP patients from May 2017 to December 2021. All patients with NP were followed up for 36 months. The primary end-points were risk factors of OF and death in NP patients. The risk factors were evaluated by logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

NP patients with OF or death patients were generally older, had a higher APACHE II score, longer hospital stay, longer ICU stay, as well as a higher incidence of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), shock and pancreatic necrosis. Independent risk factors related to OF included BMI, APACHE II score and SAP (P < 0.05). Age, shock and APACHE II score (P < 0.05) were the most significant factors correlated with the risk of death in NP patients. Notably, increased mortality was linked to the number of failed organs.

CONCLUSIONS

NP is a potentially fatal disease with a long hospital or ICU stay. Our study indicated that the incidence of OF and death in NP patients was 69.9% and 10.2%, respectively. BMI, SAP, APACHE II score, age and shock are potential risk factors of OF and death in NP patients. Clinicians should focus on these factors for early diagnosis and appropriate therapy.

Circulating monocytes in acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is a common gastrointestinal disease characterized by inflammation of the exocrine pancreas and manifesting itself through acute onset of abdominal pain. It is frequently associated with organ failure, pancreatic necrosis, and death. Mounting evidence describes monocytes - phagocytic, antigen presenting, and regulatory cells of the innate immune system - as key contributors and regulators of the inflammatory response and subsequent organ failure in acute pancreatitis. This review highlights the recent advances of dynamic change of numbers, phenotypes, and functions of circulating monocytes as well as their underling regulatory mechanisms with a special focus on the role of lipid modulation during acute pancreatitis.

Pheochromocytoma Multisystem Crisis Complicated by Severe Acute Pancreatitis

A 43-year-old man developed headache, dizziness, abdominal pain, and vomiting. His blood pressure was 203/121 mmHg, heart rate 122 beats/min, body temperature 39.1 °C, and respiratory rate 24/min. He had elevated levels of creatinine at 2.95 mg/dL and lipase at 1,364 U/L as well as an extremely low calcium level at 5.2 mg/dL. Hypertriglyceridemia and hyperglycemia were seen. Chest and abdominal computed tomography showed interstitial pneumonia, severe pancreatitis, and a right adrenal tumor. The patient also developed vertebral artery dissection and medullary infarction. After right adrenalectomy, the patient was diagnosed with pheochromocytoma multisystem crisis (PMC). Acute pancreatitis might augment numerous life-threatening manifestations of PMC.

Prognostic Value of Arterial Lactate Metabolic Clearance Rate in Moderate and Severe Acute Pancreatitis

PURPOSE

High lactate levels at hospital admission are significantly associated with poor prognosis in acute pancreatitis patients. Early high lactate clearance is a vital marker for predicting persistent organ failure and mortality in critical illness; however, its value in acute pancreatitis remains unclear.

METHOD

Data were collected from patients who were diagnosed with moderately severe acute pancreatitis and severe acute pancreatitis from January 2017 to December 2020. Initial lactate (within 2 hours after admission) and repeat lactate at 24 hours after admission were measured to determine lactate clearance. Low clearance was defined as a reduction in repeat lactate of less than 30% compared to the first measurement. High clearance was defined as a repeat lactate decrease ≥30% of the first measurement or both first and second lactate levels <2 mmol/L. Baseline data, laboratory data, mortality rate, persistent organ failure rate, and other outcomes such as the incidence of septic pancreatic necrosis and sepsis and the length of hospital stay and intensive care unit (ICU) stay were compared in the low and high lactate clearance groups. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the value of lactate clearance for predicting death.

RESULT

Among 4425 acute pancreatitis patients, 3040 patients were diagnosed with moderate or severe acute pancreatitis, and 1028 patients had initial lactate measured. Finally, 390 patients who had initial and 24-hour repeat lactate data were included in the study. Patients who had elevated initial lactate had poor outcomes, and 51 patients in the initial elevated lactate group died. In the lactate normalization group analysis, 293 patients had 24-hour lactate normalization; compared with patients in the nonnormalization group, they had a lower rate of mortality (12.6% vs. 33%). In the lactate clearance group analysis, 70 (21.9%) patients had a low clearance after 24 hours; compared with patients in the high clearance group, they had a higher rate of developing persistent multiorgan failure (P = 0.045), and the incidence of death was higher (15% vs. 28.6%, P = 0.007). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that 24-hour lactate clearance (OR: 2.007; 95% CI:1.032-3.903, P = 0.04), elevated initial lactate (OR: 2.011; 95% CI:1.023-3.953, P = 0.043), blood urea nitrogen (OR: 2.316; 95% CI:1.061-5.056, P = 0.035), and white blood count (OR: 1.982; 95% CI:1.026-3.829, P = 0.042) were independent predictors of hospital mortality.

CONCLUSION

The 24-hour clearance of lactate is a reliable marker to predict the outcome of moderate and severe acute pancreatitis, and low lactate clearance may indicate that the patient's condition will worsen, requiring aggressive treatments to improve patient outcomes.

Predicting persistent organ failure on admission in patients with acute pancreatitis: development and validation of a mobile nomogram

BACKGROUND

Early prediction of persistent organ failure (POF) is important for triage and timely treatment of patients with acute pancreatitis (AP).

METHODS

All AP patients were consecutively admitted within 48 h of symptom onset. A nomogram was developed to predict POF on admission using data from a retrospective training cohort, validated by two prospective cohorts. The clinical utility of the nomogram was defined by concordance index (C-index), decision curve analysis (DCA), and clinical impact curve (CIC), while the performance by post-test probability.

RESULTS

There were 816, 398, and 880 patients in the training, internal and external validation cohorts, respectively. Six independent predictors determined by logistic regression analysis were age, respiratory rate, albumin, lactate dehydrogenase, oxygen support, and pleural effusion and were included in the nomogram (web-based calculator: https://shina.shinyapps.io/DynNomapp/). This nomogram had reasonable predictive ability (C-indexes 0.88/0.91/0.81 for each cohort) and promising clinical utility (DCA and CIC). The nomogram had a positive likelihood ratio and post-test probability of developing POF in the training, internal and external validation cohorts of 4.26/31.7%, 7.89/39.1%, and 2.75/41%, respectively, superior or equal to other prognostic scores.

CONCLUSIONS

This nomogram can predict POF of AP patients and should be considered for clinical practice and trial allocation.

Protective effects of HTD4010, a Reg3a/PAP-derived peptide, in a mouse model of hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis: Involvement of TLR4/NF-kappa B

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disorder of pancreas and common digestive diseases, effective drug for AP is few. As an analog of active center of Reg3α, the biological activities of HTD4010 are similar to Reg3α. This study aimed to explore whether HTD4010 could decrease the inflammatory response and pancreatic injury in hypertriglyceridemic-AP (HTG-AP), and explore underlying mechanisms. This study was shown that the administration of HTD4010 could decrease the inflammatory response, reduce acinar cell injury (both apoptosis and necroptosis) and damage of lung tissue in HTG-AP. Moreover, HTD4010 down-regulated the expression of TLR4 and NF-κB protein. These results showed that HTD4010 could alleviate the severity of AP possibly by TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in HTG-AP.

Hypertriglyceridemia-Induced Acute Pancreatitis - Course, Outcome, and Comparison with Non-Hypertriglyceridemia Associated Pancreatitis

Background

Although hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is a well-established cause of acute pancreatitis (AP), there are no definitive management guidelines. Studies comparing clinical severity and outcome of hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTGAP) and non- HTGAP are scarce. Hence, the present study was undertaken.

Materials and Methods

All consecutive patients admitted with AP from January 2017 to August 2021 at university teaching hospital were included in this study. Data with regards to patient demographics; clinical, laboratory, and radiologic parameters; management strategies; and outcome were collected and compared between HTGAP and non-HTGAP patients.

Results

Overall, 550 patients with AP were admitted during the study period, of which 21 (3.8%) were HTG related. Mean age of HTGAP patients was 34.3 years (M: F = 14:7), and the mean serum triglyceride (TG) levels on admission were 3,718.9 mg/dL (range 1,094-11,991). Insulin infusion therapy was used in 18 patients with HTGAP and the target TG levels of ≤500 mg/dL was achieved in 4.2 days (mean). Compared to non-HTGAP patients, HTGAP patients had higher body mass index (29.2 vs. 25.6), higher clinical (BISAP 2.6 vs. 2.06) and radiologic severity scores (CT severity score 7.5 v/s 4.8), and required prolonged hospital stay (12.9 vs. 6.5 days).

Conclusion

HTGAP occurred in young patients with high BMI and was associated with more severe disease, that required prolonged hospitalization than patients with non-HTGAP. Insulin infusion therapy was effective in reducing serum TG levels.

Value of BISAP score for predicting severity of hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Early identification of hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis (HLAP) patients at risk of developing potentially lethal complications is of great clinical significance. Studies have suggested that the bedside index for in acute pancreatitis (BISAP) score is associated with adverse outcomes.

AIM

To assess the accuracy of BISAP score as a prognostic marker for severity of HLAP.

METHODS

A systematic search of main computerized databases was performed to identify eligible cohort studies on the predictive value of BISAP score for severity of HLAP. The STATA software and Meta-disc software were applied to carry out the meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Ten studies (n = 1591) were included. The overall sensitivity and specificity of BISAP score ≥ 3 for predicting mortality in HLAP were 0.85 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.65-0.96) and 0.86 (95%CI: 0.82-0.88), respectively; the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.937, and the diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) was 42.00 (95%CI: 12.86-139.12). Regarding the increase of BISAP score for prediction of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), the pooled sensitivity was 0.69 (95%CI: 0.61-0.76), and the specificity was 0.82 (95%CI: 0.78-0.85), with AUC and DOR being 0.900 and 18.47 (95%CI: 6.82-42.03), respectively. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and DOR for prediction of moderately severe acute pancreatitis (MASP) + SAP were 0.54 (95%CI: 0.50-0.63), 0.91 (95%CI: 0.89-0.93), and 15.55 (95%CI: 6.91-34.99), respectively; the AUC was 0.724. BISAP score was superior to APACH Ⅱ and Ranson score in predicting the severity of HLAP.

CONCLUSION

BISAP score is a reliable tool to identify the severity of HLAP, but it has a suboptimal sensitivity for predicting SAP and SAP + MSAP.

A Modern Approach to Dyslipidemia

Lipid disorders involving derangements in serum cholesterol, triglycerides, or both are commonly encountered in clinical practice and often have implications for cardiovascular risk and overall health. Recent advances in knowledge, recommendations, and treatment options have necessitated an updated approach to these disorders. Older classification schemes have outlived their usefulness, yielding to an approach based on the primary lipid disturbance identified on a routine lipid panel as a practical starting point. Although monogenic dyslipidemias exist and are important to identify, most individuals with lipid disorders have polygenic predisposition, often in the context of secondary factors such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. With regard to cardiovascular disease, elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is essentially causal, and clinical practice guidelines worldwide have recommended treatment thresholds and targets for this variable. Furthermore, recent studies have established elevated triglycerides as a cardiovascular risk factor, whereas depressed high-density lipoprotein cholesterol now appears less contributory than was previously believed. An updated approach to diagnosis and risk assessment may include measurement of secondary lipid variables such as apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein(a), together with selective use of genetic testing to diagnose rare monogenic dyslipidemias such as familial hypercholesterolemia or familial chylomicronemia syndrome. The ongoing development of new agents-especially antisense RNA and monoclonal antibodies-targeting dyslipidemias will provide additional management options, which in turn motivates discussion on how best to incorporate them into current treatment algorithms.

Comparative Analysis of Early Clinical Features and Complications of Different Types of Acute Pancreatitis

Background

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common surgical acute abdomen. Different kinds of pancreatitis may have different pathophysiological characteristics each other. The objective of this research was to investigate the early clinical features and complications of different types of acute pancreatitis.

Methods

787 AP patients admitted in the Huadu District People's Hospital of Guangzhou during January 2009 and December 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Among 787 AP patients, 520 (66.1%) were biliary AP (group I), 69 (8.7%) were alcoholic AP (group II), and 198 (25.2%) were hypertriglyceridemic AP (group III). According to the local and systemic complications and mortality in the early stage, we compared and analyzed the clinical characteristics and prognosis of different types of pancreatitis.

Results

Mild acute pancreatitis accounted for the highest proportion (79.4%) in group I, while moderately severe acute pancreatitis in group II (36.2%) and severe acute pancreatitis in group III (62.6%). In terms of severity score of the pancreatitis, the average scores of BISAP, Ranson, APACHE-II, and MCTSI of the patients in group III were the highest (p < 0.01). The incidence of acute peripancreatic fluid collection and infectious pancreatic necrosis was the highest in group III. The incidences of acute necrotic collection, pancreatic pseudocyst, and walled-off necrosis in group III were significantly higher than those in the other two groups (p < 0.01). The incidences of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, sepsis, multiple organ failure, intra-abdominal hypertension, and mortality were highest in group III.

Conclusions

There is an upward trend of the incidence rate of hypertriglyceridemic AP in recent years; it has been gradually developed into the second type of acute pancreatitis which is second only to the acute biliary pancreatitis. It is worthy to pay more and more attentions to it due to the feature of its younger onset, high incidence of complications, and high mortality.

Alteration of Peripheral Resistin and the Severity of Acute Pancreatitis: A Meta-Analysis

Introduction

Resistin is a small secretory adipokine which is implicated to obesity and associated diseases. Recently, plenty of research papers have been conducted to explore the association between peripheral resistin and the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). However, the results were controversial. In this study, we aimed to confirm the effect of peripheral resistin and the development of acute pancreatitis.

Methods

A comprehensive online search was performed using the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang databases up through January 20, 2022. The retrieved records and their references were screened to identify additional studies. Data were extracted to calculate the pooled Hedges' g and its 95% CI, which were selected to assess peripheral resistin levels and the severity of acute pancreatitis. Subgroup analyses, sensitivity analyses, meta-regression, and publication bias tests were also undertaken based on obtained information.

Results

A total of eleven studies with 892 acute pancreatitis patients were enrolled in the study. Peripheral resistin levels were significantly increased in severe acute pancreatitis compared with mild acute pancreatitis (Hedges' g = 2.092, 95% CI: 0.994–3.190, P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses based on sample types and ethnicity also showed similar results. A single study did not affect our results, which was verified by sensitivity analysis. Meta-regression analyses revealed that age, gender of the included subjects, sample size, and publication year did not moderate effects on the present results.

Conclusion

In our study, peripheral resistin levels were significantly elevated in patients with severe AP compared with patients with mild AP. Abnormal resistin levels may provide us some new insights in predicting the severity of AP.

Hyperlipemia pancreatitis onset time affects the association between elevated serum triglyceride levels and disease severity

Background

The association of serum triglyceride (TG) levels with the severity of hypertriglyceridaemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) remains controversial. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the TG levels from the initial onset and their predictive value in the disease assessment of HTG-AP.

Methods

Data collected from January 2018 to July 2021 in one institute were assessed retrospectively. HTG-AP was defined as a TG level > 500 mg/dL in the absence of other common aetiologies of AP. The TG levels within 24 hours (24 h), 48 hours (48 h), 3-4 days (3-4 d), and 5-7 days (5-7 d) after symptom onset and their correlations with disease severity in HTG-AP patients were analysed by cross-sectional and longitudinal studies.

Results

In the cross-sectional study, 377 HTG-AP patients were included before lipid-lowering intervention: 216 subjects had their first TG levels measured within 24 h after onset, 91 within 48 h, 50 in 3-4 d, and 20 in 5-7 d. TG levels decreased in the 24 h, 48 h and 3-4 d groups (P < 0.001), however, the TG decline in the 5-7 d group had no difference compared with the 3-4 d group. HTG-AP patients with severe or moderately severe disease displayed higher TG levels than those with mild disease in the 24 h and 48 h groups (P < 0.050) but not in the 3-4 d or 5-7 d groups. Furthermore, the TG levels were correlated with the modified computed tomography severity index only in the 24 h and 48 h groups, while an association between serum calcium levels and C-reactive protein levels was only present in the 24 h group. Similarly, the TG levels were related to hospital days and ICU days in the 24 h and/or 48 h groups. In the longitudinal study, 165 patients with complete records of TG levels from 24 h to 5-7 d were enrolled. With supportive care and lipid-lowering treatment after admission, the TG levels declined rapidly (P < 0.001), and the correlations with disease severity weakened or even disappeared from 24 h to 5-7 d.

Conclusion

TG levels decreased and attenuated the association with disease severity of HTG-AP over the time of onset. The TG levels within the initial 48 h after onset were most useful for the diagnosis and disease assessment of HTG-AP.

Approach to the Patient With Moderate Hypertriglyceridemia

Hypertriglyceridemia is a common lipid disorder encountered in clinical practice. Plasma triglycerides are a marker for the concentration of triglycerides carried in chylomicrons and very low-density lipoprotein particles. A fasting triglyceride level <150 mg/dL is accepted widely as the upper limit of normal range. Guidelines for hypertriglyceridemia are variable without a global consensus on classification and goals for triglyceride levels. A general classification of hypertriglyceridemia is mild < 200 mg/dL, moderate = 200 to 500 mg/dL, moderate to severe = 500 to 1000 mg/dL, and severe > 1000 mg/dL. Because moderate hypertriglyceridemia does increase atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk, it is important to determine the underlying etiology to guide appropriate and timely management. This article provides stepwise recommendations on the diagnosis and management of moderate hypertriglyceridemia, based on 3 common scenarios encountered in clinical practice. Initial steps in management include evaluating for secondary contributors, especially diabetes mellitus. Based on patient characteristics, appropriate management decisions include lifestyle adjustments aimed at weight loss and decreasing alcohol consumption and use of statin and nonstatin therapies.

Effects of Lipolysis-Stimulated Lipoprotein Receptor on Tight Junctions of Pancreatic Ductal Epithelial Cells in Hypertriglyceridemic Acute Pancreatitis

Objective

We investigated the effects of lipolysis-stimulated lipoprotein receptor (LSR) on the tight junctions (TJs) of pancreatic ductal epithelial cells (PDECs) in hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis (HTGAP).

Methods

Sprague-Dawley rats were fed standard rat chow or a high-fat diet and injected with sodium taurocholate to obtain normal and HTGAP rats, respectively. Serum triglyceride (TG) levels, pathological changes, TJ proteins in the pancreas, and TJ ultrastructure of PDECs were assessed. LSR overexpression (OE) and knockdown (KD) HPDE6-C7 models were designed and cultured in a high-fat environment. Protein levels were quantified by Western blotting. Cell monolayer permeability was detected using FITC-Dextran.

Results

Serum TG concentration and pancreatic scores were higher in the HTGAP group than in the normal group. Among the TJ proteins, LSR protein expression was significantly lower in the HTGAP group than in the acute pancreatitis (AP) group. Tricellulin (TRIC) expression in the pancreatic ductal epithelia was higher in the HTGAP group than in the AP group. The HTGAP group had lower TJ protein levels, wider intercellular space, and widespread cellular necrosis with disappearance of cell junction structures. In the cell study, TJ proteins were downregulated and the cellular barrier was impaired by palmitic acid (PA), which was reversed by LSR-OE, whereas LSR-KD downregulated the TJ proteins and aggravated PA-induced cellular barrier impairment.

Conclusions

Hypertriglyceridemia downregulates the TJ proteins in PDECs, which may impair the pancreatic ductal mucosal barrier function. LSR regulation can change the effects of HTG on cellular barrier function by upregulating the TJ proteins.

Establishment of Early Multi-Indicator Prediction Models of Moderately Severe Acute Pancreatitis and Severe Acute Pancreatitis

Background

It is critical to accurately identify patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and moderately SAP (MSAP) in a timely manner. The study was done to establish two early multi-indicator prediction models of MSAP and SAP.

Methods

Clinical data of 469 patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) between 2015 and 2020, at the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, and between 2012 and 2020, at the Affiliated Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, were retrospectively analyzed. The unweighted predictive score (unwScore) and weighted predictive score (wScore) for MSAP and SAP were derived using logistic regression analysis and were compared with four existing systems using receiver operating characteristic curves.

Results

Seven prognostic indicators were selected for incorporation into models, including white blood cell count, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, triglyceride, D-dimer, serum potassium, and serum calcium. The cut-offs of the unwScore and wScore for predicting severity were set as 3 points and 0.513 points, respectively. The unwScore (AUC = 0.854) and wScore (AUC = 0.837) were superior to the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score (AUC = 0.526), the bedside index for severity in AP score (AUC = 0.766), and the Ranson score (AUC = 0.693) in predicting MSAP and SAP, which were equivalent to the modified computed tomography severity index score (AUC = 0.823).

Conclusions

The unwScore and wScore have good predictive value for MSAP and SAP, which could provide a valuable clinical reference for management and treatment.