1. Plasma D-Lactic Acid Level: A Useful Marker to Distinguish Perforated From Acute Simple Appendicitis
- Author
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Mehmet Demircan, Selma Cetin, Sema Uguralp, and Abdurrahman Karaman
- Subjects
Surgery ,RD1-811 - Abstract
Early diagnosis of perforated appendicitis is important for reducing morbidity rates. The aim of this study was to determine the value and utility of plasma D-lactic acid levels in identifying the type of appendicitis. In this clinical study, plasma D-lactic acid levels were assessed in 44 consecutive paediatric patients (23 with acute appendicitis, 21 with perforated appendicitis) before laparotomy. D-lactic acid levels were determined by an enzymatic spectrophotometric technique using a D-lactic acid dehydrogenase kit. Patients with perforated appendicitis had higher D-lactic acid levels (3.970 ± 0.687 mg/dL) than patients in the control group (0.478 ± 0.149 mg/dL) and patients with acute appendicitis (1.409 ± 0.324 mg/dL; p < 0.05). For a plasma D-lactic acid level greater than 2.5 mg/dL, the sensitivity and specificity of the D-lactic acid assay were 96% and 87%, respectively. The positive predictive value was 87%, the negative predictive value was 96%, and the diagnostic value was 91%. These results suggest that the measurement of plasma D-lactic acid levels may be a useful adjunct to clinical and radiological findings in distinguishing perforated from acute non-perforated appendicitis in children.
- Published
- 2004
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