Abstract

Aim: We aimed in our study to determine serum amphiregulin level, which is an indicator of a malignancy, and to foresee pancreatic carcinoma in chronic pancreatitis. Material and Method: Forty-two patients who applied to department of gastroenterology and were diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis and 43 healthy patients as the control group were enrolled in the study. Serum amphiregulin levels were studied with an Amphiregulin Human ELISA Kit ab99975 (Abcam, Cambridge, UK) by ELISA (Enzyme- Linked Immunosorbent Assay) method. Results: Patients with chronic pancreatitis compared to healthy control group (p=0.007) and the group complicated with pseudocyst among chronic pancreatitis patient group, serum amphiregulin level (p=0.006) and CA 19-9 (p=0.03) level are high. We also found that the relationship between the long diameter of the pseudocyst and serum amphiregulin level is statistically significant (p=0.01) in the complicated chronic pancreatitis group. Conclusion: Patients with chronic pancreatitis and the group complicated with pseudocyst among chronic pancreatitis patient group must be monitored more closely in terms of pancreatic cancer since serum amphiregulin level and CA 19-9 level are high and the relationship between the long diameter of the pseudocyst and serum amphiregulin level is statistically significant in such patient groups.

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