The Diagnostic Value of Irisin in Pediatric Patients with Acute Abdominal Pain

Objectives. Diagnosis of pediatric patients presenting to the Emergency Department with acute abdominal pain is not always easy. Te purpose of this study was to investigate the efectiveness of irisin, a peptide hormone with reactivity shown in the appendix and neutrophils, in the diferential diagnosis of pediatric patients with acute abdominal pain. Methods. 162 subjects consenting to participate, including 112 patients presenting to the Pediatric Emergency and Pediatric Surgery clinics with acute abdominal pain and 50 controls, were enrolled in the study. Blood was collected from all patients following initial examination for irisin, WBC, and CRP investigation. Results. Mean irisin levels in cases of acute appendicitis (AA) and perforated appendicitis (PA) were statistically signifcantly higher compared to nonspecifc abdominal pains and the control group. No statistically signifcant diference was observed in irisin levels between AA and PA cases. WBC and CRP levels were also signifcantly higher in cases of AA and PA compared to nonspecifc abdominal pains. Conclusions. Diferential diagnosis of acute abdominal pains in children and deciding on surgery are a difcult and complex process. Our study shows that irisin can be a useful biomarker in diferentiating AA and PA from other acute abdominal pains in children.