Endothelial-derived selectins in the development of organ dysfunction in acute pancreatitis

Objective: The development of organ dysfunction is the principal determinan t of outcome in acute pancreatitis and is mediated through a systemic infla mmatory response characterized by leukocyte and endothetial cell activation . Up-regulation of the endothelial cell adhesion molecules, E-selectin and P-selectin, is important for endothelial/leukocyte interactions. Levels of serum-soluble E-selectin and P-selectin have been suggested as markers of e ndothelial activation. This study examines the kinetics of serum-soluble se lectins in patients with acute pancreatitis complicated by organ dysfunctio n. Design:Prospective observational study. Setting: University teaching hospital with a specialist hepato-pancreatica- biliary service. Patients: Eighteen patients with acute pancreatitis were studied, nine of w hom had organ dysfunction, Measurements and Main Results:Serial venous blood samples were collected an the first 3 days after admission for measurement of soluble E-selectin and P-selectin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In all patients, soluble P-setectin concentrations decreased significantly during the study period. Nonsurvivors had significantly higher levels of soluble P-selectin than sur vivors. In contrast, soluble E-selectin increased significantly during the study period in patients with organ dysfunction, whereas it remained consta nt in patients without evidence of organ dysfunction. Conclusions: These results suggest a role for endothelial-derived selectins in the development of organ dysfunction in patients with acute pancreatiti s. The observed temporal differences in serum selectin concentrations is in keeping with in vitro observations of endothelial selectin expression.