ABSTRACT
Background: Appendicitis is the main cause of acute surgical abdomen in pediatrics. Delay in the diagnosis implies serious consequences. Objective: To know the utility of inflammation markers for predicting complicated acute appendicitis (CAA) in children. Material and methods: Analytical cross-sectional retrolective study. We included patients from 3 to 17 years, with and without acute appendicitis (AA), who had complete blood count (CBC). Presurgical CBC, surgical findings and histopathologic results were recorded; group I, CAA; group II, uncomplicated acute appendicitis (UAA); and group III, without AA, with stratified analysis by age group. Results: 377 patients were included, 9 years of age (IQR 5-12.5), group I (n = 94), group II (n = 94) and group III (n = 189). Group I showed elevation in the values of Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), Platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and Systemic immune inflammation (SII) index and lower levels for the Lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR). For AA, in preeschoolers, NLR (sensitivity [S]: 0.85; specificity [E]: 0.98), PLR (S: 0.76; E: 0.85), SII (S: 0.92; E: 0.92) was observed; school children, NLR (S: 0.90; E: 0.96), PLR (S: 0.70: E: 0.86), SII (S: 0.91; E: 0.91); adolescents, NLR (S: 0.85; E: 0.97), PLR (S: 0.26; E: 0.95), SII (S: 0.86; E: 0.86); in CAA, S and E decreased. NLR, PLR, LMR and SII were associated with AA in all ages; PLR and SII in preschoolers, LMR in school children were associated with CAA. Conclusion: NLR, PLR, LMR and SII are predictors of AA in pediatric age, and for AAC, PLR and SII in preschoolers and LMR in school children.
Introducción: la apendicitis es la principal causa de abdomen agudo quirúrgico en pediatría; el retraso en su diagnóstico implica consecuencias graves. Objetivo: conocer la utilidad de los índices inflamatorios para predicción de apendicitis aguda complicada (AAC) en niños. Material y métodos: estudio transversal, analítico, retrolectivo. Incluimos pacientes de 3 a 17 años, con y sin apendicitis aguda (AA), con biometría hemática completa (BHC). Se registró BHC prequirúrgica, hallazgos quirúrgicos y resultado histopatológico; grupo I, AAC; grupo II, apendicitis aguda no complicada (AANC) y grupo III, sin AA; con análisis estratificado por grupo etario. Resultados: se incluyeron 377 pacientes, edad 9 años (RIC 5-12.5), grupo I, 94; grupo II, 94, y grupo III, 189. El grupo I mostró elevación de los índices neutrófilos/linfocitos (INL), plaquetas/linfocitos (IPL) e inmuno/sistémico (IIS) y menor índice linfocitos/monocitos (ILM). Para AA, se observó en preescolares, INL (sensibilidad [S]: 0.85; especificidad [E]: 0.98), IPL (S: 0.76; E: 0.85), IIS (S: 0.92; E: 0.92); escolares, INL (S: 0.90; E: 0.96), IPL (S: 0.70; E: 0.86), IIS (E: 0.91; S: 0.91); adolescentes, INL (S: 0.85; E: 0.97), IPL (S: 0.26; E: 0.95), IIS (S: 0.86; E: 0.86); en AAC, S y E disminuyeron. INL, IPL, ILM e IIS se asociaron con AA en todas las edades; IPL e IIS en preescolares e ILM en escolares se asociaron con AAC. Conclusión: INL, IPL, ILM e IIS son predictores de AA en edad pediátrica, así como, IPL e IIS en preescolares e ILM en escolares lo son de AAC.
