At presentation, which glucose level is a criterion for Ranson criteria?

The Ranson criteria are used to assess the severity of acute pancreatitis and help predict patient outcomes. One of the specific criteria includes evaluating the blood glucose level at the time of admission. A glucose level greater than 200 mg/dL is significant because it indicates that the patient may have a more severe form of pancreatitis. Elevated blood glucose can be a reflection of stress response or pancreatic dysfunction, which are common in cases of acute pancreatitis.

In clinical practice, the presence of hyperglycemia is an important consideration because it may correlate with the degree of pancreatic injury and overall severity of the disease, influencing management decisions and prognosis. Therefore, reporting a blood glucose level higher than 200 mg/dL aligns with the Ranson criteria to emphasize the importance of monitoring metabolic derangements in these patients.