The diagnostic value of serum urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor in acute appendicitis.

Background: To measure serum uPAR levels in patients operated with a preliminary diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA) and to investigate whether these parameters can be used as a biochemical marker in the diagnosis of AA.

Methods: Patients aged 18 or over, presenting to the emergency department between May and December 2018 and operated with a diagnosis of AA were enrolled. This study included 84 patients with surgical pathology results compatible with AA (Group A), 26 patients with surgical pathology results were not compatible with AA (Group B) and 55 healthy control groups. Serum uPAR levels were measured from venous blood samples taken at admission.

Results: Mean uPAR levels were 4.53±3.47 ng/mL in the Group A, 1.13±1.63 ng/mL in the Group B and 0.80±1.21 ng/mL in the control group. Serum uPAR levels differed statistically significantly from Group A in Group B and the control group, (p<0.05).

Conclusion: uPAR was found to be significantly higher in the AA patients compared to the control group and patients with surgically determined non-AA pathologies. uPAR can be used as an aid in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.