Vitamin D levels in early phase of acute pancreatitis - preliminary study

Recent decades brought important insights into the role of vitamin D, showing, among others, its anti-inflammatory properties. Studies linked vitamin D deficiency with higher incidence and worse outcomes of acute inflammatory conditions. Several studies reported low vitamin D status in acute pancreatitis (AP), however, its association with AP severity is not clear, and there are no such studies in Polish population. The aim of the study was to evaluate the concentrations of 25-OH-D at the early phase (the first three days) of AP, to assess the changes in vitamin D concentrations in that period, and to study the relationship with AP severity.

The prospective observational study included adult patients with AP admitted within the first 24 h from the onset of symptoms. Total 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured at 24, 48 and 72 h from the AP onset, using electrochemiluminescent assay.

Initial 25-OH-D was not associated with AP severity. In patients who developed moderately severe to severe AP and pancreatic necrosis, the decrease in 25-OH-D over two consecutive days was higher comparing to mild AP. The change in 25-OH-D concentrations during the first three days of AP was significantly correlated with inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, leukocyte count, D-dimer), total calcium, hematocrit, and platelet count.

Our study confirmed the decrease in 25-OH-D in AP; however, it cannot be reliably used as an early prognostic factor of severity in AP as it appears too late from the onset of symptoms and its diagnostic accuracy is low.