Correlation of hyperglycemia and balthazar classification in patients with acute pancreatitis

High levels of glucose during acute pancreatitis (AP) progression influence disease progression by promoting the release of inflammatory cytokines. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of both the blood glucose level in patients without diabetes mellitus (DM) and the presence of DM on the severity and course of AP in patients presenting with clinical AP.

The study included 343 patients who were hospitalized at Van Training and Research Hospital, Turkey and followed up with the diagnosis of AP between 2014 and 2018. The patients were separated into two groups as diabetic and non-diabetic. The relationship between DM and the severity and course of AP was examined in the two groups.

The DM group included 52 (15.1%) patients, and the non- DM group included 291 (84.9%) patients. In the non-DM group, the serum glucose level was <125 mg/dl in 160 (54.9 %) patients, and >125 mg/dl in 131 (45.1 %) patients. In the comparison of AP severity in the diabetic and non-diabetic groups, the rate of severe AP was determined to be significantly higher in the diabetic group according to the Modified Balthazar classification, evaluated from tomographies taken on admission and on the 3rd day (p:0.026, p:0.001, respectively).

Elevated blood glucose is relatively common in patients with AP and has a negative impact on the disease process. A high glucose level can increase the severity of AP and slow healing.