The human pancreatic stone protein is not present in pancreatic juice as such. They are present in polymorphic forms which have high molecular weights. These secretory forms are formed by the acinar cells of the pancreas and secreted similarly as the exocrine enzymes. Pancreatic stone protein and pancreatic stone protein S1 are formed by cleavage of arg-lle bond of the N-terminal of PSP s2-5.

 

In the recent prospective cohort study conducted by Klein et al, selected cardiac surgery patients to investigate the role of pancreatic stone protein (PSP) as a predictor of infection in post-operative course of patients with cardiac surgery. Various biomarkers are used currently, which indicate infection like inflammation. However, the role and impact of pancreatic stone protein is poorly understood.

 

The most important factor in poor clinical outcome of patient with sepsis includes the lack of reliable diagnostic tools to access the occurrence of infection. Quick identification of patients with such risk can be helpful. The pancreatic stone protein was explored as a novel diagnostic biomarker in septic ICU patients. The entire molecular mechanism of how PSP responds to infection is still not completely understood.

 

In the present study, PSP was investigated for its presence in post-operative infections in cohort of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. In this study, it was found that significant increase in the pancreatic stone protein was observed along with canonical inflammatory markers like WBC and CRP after the cardiac surgery. Also, significant rise in PSP was observed in patients who were diagnosed with infection during post-operative course. The finding was evident irrespective of the method of surgery. Further clinical studies can help in supporting the results and understanding the role of PSP as diagnostic marker for infection in post-operative course of patients with cardiac surgeries.