Ranson criteria allow early diagnosis of severe acute pancreatitis. The more criteria the patient meets, the more severe the episode of pancreatitis and the greater the risk of mortality. The lists below detail the criteria used and the prognostic implications. Assign 1 point for each criterion met.
Criteria on admission
- Age greater than 55 years
- White blood cell count greater than 16,000/mm3
- Serum glucose greater than 200 mg/dl
- Lactic dehydrogenase greater than 350 IU/L
- Aspartate aminotransferase greater than 250 IU/L
Criteria 48 hours after admission
- Greater than 10% decrease in hematocrit
- Blood urea nitrogen increase greater than 5 mg/dl
- Serum calcium less than 8 mg/dl
- Partial pressure of arterial oxygen less than 60 mm Hg
- Base deficit greater than 4 mEq/L
- Estimated fluid sequestration greater than 6 L
Prognostic implications
- Score 0 to 2: 2% mortality
- Score 3 to 4: 15% mortality
- Score 5 to 6: 40% mortality
- Score 7 to 11: 100% mortality