The relationship between mortality and inflammation in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between mortality and inflammation in patients who were admitted to the emergency room with gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients (n = 96) managed at two medical centres were included in the study. Initial levels of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), haemoglobin and albumin, and leucocyte and thrombocyte counts for 28 patients who died were compared with those for the 68 patients who survived and were successfully discharged. The data were analysed using the chi(2)-test. Serum levels of CRP and leucocyte counts were significantly higher, and albumin and haemoglobin were significantly lower in patients who died compared with patients who survived. The increased levels of serum CRP and leucocyte counts, and decreased levels of albumin and haemoglobin were found to be independent risk factors for mortality. It is concluded that increased serum CRP levels and leucocyte counts combined with decreased albumin and haemoglobin levels on admission to the emergency room may be used as predictive factors of mortality in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding.