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Updated: Jul 28, 2025

Preparation of Pancreatic Acinar Cells for the Purpose of Calcium Imaging, Cell Injury Measurements, and Adenoviral Infection
Published on: July 5, 2013
Red Cell Distribution Width and Ratio of Red Cell Distribution Width-to-Total Serum Calcium as Predictors of Outcome
Varun Gupta1, Savjot Singh Narang1, Chiranjiv Singh Gill1
1Department of Surgery, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
Background:
Current severity assessment scores of acute pancreatitis (AP) include multiple variables, the results of which are available only after 48 h of admission. Red cell distribution width (RDW) and total serum calcium (TSC) are simple routine parameters related to inflammatory status and results of which are readily available.
Aim:
The aim of this study was to evaluate RDW and RDW: TSC within 24 h of hospital admission as predictors of outcome (severity and mortality) and intervention (medical/percutaneous drainage/surgical) required by patients of AP.
Materials And Methods:
All the patients diagnosed with AP at a tertiary care hospital were enrolled for the study. Values of RDW and TSC along with data regarding the treatment given were collected. Diagnosis and severity were defined according to the revised Atlanta classification 2012.
Results And Interpretation:
Cutoff value for RDW (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC]: 0.997; P = 0.000) to predict the severity of AP was 16.25% (sensitivity - 100% and specificity - 97.1%,) (sensitivity - 100% and specificity - 97.1%, positive predictive value - 92.31%, negative predictive value - 100%, and Youden Index - 0.971), while that of RDW:TSC (AUROC: 1; P = 0.000) was 2.42 (sensitivity - 100%; specificity - 100%, positive predictive value - 100%, negative predictive value - 100%, and Youden Index - 1.00). Similarly, the cutoff value for RDW (AUROC: 0.947; P = 0.000) to predict mortality in AP was 17.20% (sensitivity - 100%; specificity - 87.4%, positive predictive value - 38.89%, negative predictive value - 100%, and Youden Index - 0.874) and that of RDW-to-TSC ratio (AUROC: 0.975; P = 0.000) was 2.9 (sensitivity - 100%; specificity - 96.6%, positive predictive value - 70%, negative predictive value - 100%, and Youden Index - 0.966).
Conclusion:
Our study found that RDW and RDW: TSC were quick, convenient, economic, sensitive, and dependable prognostic predictors of severity and mortality in patients with AP.
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Acute Pancreatitis II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
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Assessment:
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Acute Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Acute pancreatitis is characterized by rapid inflammation of the pancreas, often caused by factors like gallstone blockage or excessive alcohol consumption. Chronic pancreatitis, on the other hand, is a slow, progressive inflammation that may result from long-term alcohol abuse, obstructions in the pancreatic duct, or genetic factors.
The causes of acute pancreatitis include:
Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...

