Objectives: To evaluate the clinical applicability of the determination of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) parameters in acute pancreatitis.
Methods: The subjects for this study were 139 consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis. DIC parameters were assessed at the initial observation of these patients.
Results: The levels of the DIC parameters at admission were significantly associated with the severity and the prognosis of acute pancreatitis. Antithrombin III (AT-III), fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products-E, platelet count, D-dimer, and thrombin-AT-III complex at admission showed better area under the receiver operating characteristics curve values compared with C-reactive protein. An AT-III value of 69% at admission was the best cut-off value to predict fatal outcome (sensitivity, 81%; specificity, 86%).
Conclusions: The aggravated coagulation parameters predict a fatal outcome in patients with acute pancreatitis. AT-III level (<69%) was the most accurate marker for poor outcome of acute pancreatitis at admission.