Additional considerations on a combination of inflammatory markers and scoring systems for early severity stratification of acute pancreatitis

Abstract

A recent single-center retrospective study proposed novel combinations of hematological parameters and scoring systems for predicting severe acute pancreatitis. While these combinations showed promising predictive performance, several limitations warrant consideration, including the lack of calibration, the absence of key inflammatory markers such as procalcitonin, and practical challenges in integrating these models into routine clinical workflows. To improve predictive accuracy and clinical applicability, prospective validation and the inclusion of additional variables are recommended.

Keywords: Acute pancreatitis; Procalcitonin; Calibration; Severity stratification; Prognostic model

Core Tip: A novel combination of hematological parameters and scoring systems demonstrated excellent predictive performance for severe acute pancreatitis. Despite its promise, limitations—including the absence of key inflammatory markers (e.g., procalcitonin) and the need for calibration analysis, as well as practical implementation challenges—necessitate further validation and incorporation of additional variables to enhance clinical applicability.