Plasma hydrogen sulphide does not predict severity of acute pancreatitis in humans

The primary aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of plasma hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) level at admission as a predictor of severity of acute pancreatitis. The secondary aims were to examine whether the level of H₂S after 48 h correlated with severity and whether level of H₂S correlated with pulmonary, renal or infectious complications. Plasma hydrogen sulphide was measured within 24 h of admission and 48 h later, in patients with acute pancreatitis. Patients were classified as having mild or severe pancreatitis, and H₂S levels in the two groups were compared. A total of 55 patients had H₂S estimation carried out within 24 h of admission. H₂S levels were similar in patients with mild (mean 31.8 ± 18.8, range 7.1 to 81.4 µmol/L) and severe pancreatitis (mean 28.2 ± 21.6, range 6.1 to 74.4 µmol/L; p = 0.339). There was no difference found between the groups after 48 h (mild n = 28, mean 26.8 ± 19.4 µmol/L, and severe n = 20, mean 34.6 ± 21.0 µmol/L; p = 0.127). There was also no difference in the levels between patients with or without lung injury, kidney injury or sepsis. Performing H2S estimation to predict severity in acute pancreatitis is not beneficial.