Value of Leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1 (LRG-1) on diagnosis of acute appendicitis in female patients with right lower-quadrant abdominal pain.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic usefulness of leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1 in female patients with acute abdominal pain on right lower-quadrant and acute appendicitis.

METHODS: The prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at the emergency department of Kecioren Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, during a two-month period in 2014, and comprised patients with acute abdominal pain in right lower-quadrant, and control subjects. Female patients aged 18-60 years who were admitted to the hospital's emergency department were included. The control group consisted of healthy females without acute or chronic diseases. Venous blood was obtained from all the subjects to measure leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1.

RESULTS: Of the 160 participants, 80(50%) were patients and 80(50%) were control subjects. The mean value of leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1 level in the patient and control groups were 6.78±2.21mg/ml and 6.59±2.37mg/ml, respectively (p>0.05). Among the cases, 32(40%) patients were diagnosed with acute appendicitis, whereas 48(60%) with non-acute appendicitis. The mean leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1level was 6.96±2.76mg/ml in patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis, and 6.66±1.78mg/ml in those diagnosed with non-acute appendicitis (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Plasma leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1 levels were not useful in diagnosing acute appendicitis in female patients with acute abdominal pain in right lower-quadrant.