Objective: The aim of this prospective, single-center cohort study was to analyze serum leucine-rich α-2-glycoprotein-1 (LRG1) expression in patients with acute cholecystitis (AC) and to investigate its variation depending on symptom duration.
Patients and methods: Participants were divided into patients with AC and a healthy control group. At the time of diagnosis, blood samples were collected, and symptom onset times were questioned. Collected serum LRG1 levels were measured.
Results: 30 patients and 30 healthy volunteers were included in the study. LRG1 (p=0.008), white blood cells (WBC) (p<0.001), platelet (p=0.003), neutrophil (p<0.001), lymphocyte (p=0.001), and CRP (p=0.014) were significantly different in AC patients vs. the control group. When the correlations of serum laboratory values with the time of onset of symptoms were compared, LRG1 (p<0.001) was significantly correlated, while no significant correlation was observed in C-reactive protein (CRP) (p=0.572), WBC (p=0.155), and neutrophil (p=0.155).
Conclusions: LRG1 expression increases after 24 hours in AC patients. Due to its correlation with symptom duration, we believe it can be helpful for timing cholecystectomy.