Early diagnosis of a pancreatic abscess in acute pancreatitis

Complexes of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor and leukocyte elastase could be demonstrated on crossed immunoelectrophoresis of the peritoneal fluid in 4 patients, who developed a pancreatic abscess during an attack of acute pancreatitis. No such complexes were seen in 69 patients with acute pancreatitis without an abscess. The complexes were demonstrable 2-3 days before the abscess was clinically evident. They may thus be diagnostically and therapeutically important.