Determination of serum amphiregulin level in patient with chronic pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis is an inflammatory syndrome of pancreas which is characterized by progressive parenchymal fibrosis, maldigestion, diabetes mellitus and pain. Chronic pancreatitis is premalignant condition and there are no effective screening methods to detect pancreas cancer. Amphiregulin is a member of the epidermal growth factor family and has mitogenic effect by binding EGFR. It is known that amphiregulin expression is increased in pancreas carcinoma. The aim of our study is to detect serum amphiregulin levels in chronic pancreatitis which is premalignant lesion and to determine whether serum amphiregulin may be helpful in predicting pancreas carcinoma in high-risk patients. We measured serum amphiregulin levels are significantly higher in chronic pancreatitis patients than in healthy controls(p:0.007). Also, pseudocyst group has higher serum amphiregulin levels(p:0.006) and serum Ca 19-9(p:0.03) levels in chronic pancreatitis patients. Moreover, relationship between pseudocyst longitudinal diameter and serum amphiregulin level is statistically significant in complicated chronic pancreatitis group. Serum amphiregulin and Ca 19-9 levels are increased in chronic pancreatitis group and in complicated chronic pancreatitis group. Relationship between pseudocyst longitudinal diameter and serum amphiregulin level is statistically significant. Therefore, close follow-up for development of pancreas carcinoma is required in these patients group.