The value of NLR, PLR, PCT, and D-D levels in assessing the severity of hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND

The incidence of hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis (HLAP) has been increasing yearly, presenting a younger demographic and high mortality rates. Early assessment of severity is essential for improving treatment strategies and outcomes. Various serum biomarkers, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), have shown prognostic value in inflammatory conditions.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate NLR, PLR, procalcitonin (PCT), and D-dimer (D-D) as biomarkers in assessing HLAP severity, identify independent predictors factors for moderate-to-severe HLAP, and provide evidence for tailored therapeutic interventions.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 145 HLAP patients admitted between mid-2021 and mid-2023 at Jining No. 1 People's Hospital. Patients were categorized into mild HLAP and moderate-to-severe HLAP groups based on severity. Clinical and biochemical data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0, and the diagnostic efficacy of NLR, PLR, PCT, and D-D was evaluated via Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve.

RESULTS

Elevated levels of NLR, PLR, PCT, and D-D were identified as independent predictors for moderate-to-severe HLAP. The combined ROC curve for these biomarkers yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.898 (95% CI: 0.841-0.956), with sensitivity and specificity of 0.818 and 0.892, respectively, outperforming individual biomarkers.

CONCLUSIONS

The combined assessment of NLR, PLR, PCT, and D-D is a simple, efficient, and cost-effective method for early HLAP severity evaluation. Further large-scale studies are warranted to validate these findings.