Evaluation of plasma serotonin concentration in acute appendicitis
Kalra, U.; Chitkara, N.; Dadoo, R.C.; Singh, G.P.; Gulati, P.; Narula, S.
Indian Journal of Gastroenterology Official Journal of the Indian Society of Gastroenterology 16(1): 18-19
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0254-8860 PMID: 9167375 Document Number: 471943
Due to lack of reliable biochemical/radiological markers, the diagnosis of acute appendicitis is based only on clinical features. We estimated plasma serotonin levels in 48 patients with acute appendicitis (histologically proven), 27 patients with abdominal pain of other etiologies, and 20 healthy controls. The plasma serotonin levels were (mean +/- SD) 36.6 +/- 12.5 nmol/L, 12.5 +/- 3.6 nmol/L and 10.4 +/- 3.5 nmol/L in the three groups, respectively. The levels in patients with acute appendicitis were significantly higher (p < 0.001) than in the other groups, giving 93.8% sensitivity and 95.7% specificity to the test. Plasma serotonin level is a reliable marker of acute appendicitis, especially in the first 48 hours.