iMmune SignAtures and Clinical outComes in AP

All participants will sign an informed consent before participating in the study. Adult subjects of both sexes and belonging to all ethnicities will be enrolled. Participants will consent for access to their electronic health records, complete study questionnaires, undergo serial clinical laboratory testing and provide biospecimens during their acute pancreatitis (AP) hospitalization. The research team will access the electronic health records for 5 years from the time of enrollment in the study.

The study network is comprised of five academic sites. Four sites will enroll AP patients [OSU, University of Illinois in Chicago Hospital (UIC), University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), and the Keck Hospital of the University of Southern California (USC)]. The fifth site, the Benaroya Research Institute (BRI) will coordinate biospecimen handling for analyses, perform bioinformatics and serve as the biospecimen coordinating center (BCC). Each enrolling site will collect and ship biosamples to BRI. The blood samples collected in this study will be deposited into the Benaroya Research Institute (BRI) Immune-Mediated Diseases Registry and Repository (IMDRR). Participation in the repository is a requirement for inclusion in the study. Specimens collected in this study will be used for immune assays. Samples will also be coded and stored for up to 15 years in the IMDRR. Samples may be used to evaluate additional responses as new research tools become available or exploratory hypotheses are generated. OSU will serve as the data coordinating center (DCC). Coordinators at enrolling sites will enter study data into a secure cloud-based electronic database, and the DCC will be in charge of monitoring the quality and completeness of the electronic data.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18-75 years at the time of enrollment
• Diagnosis of acute pancreatitis (AP) according to the revised Atlanta criteria (see definition below)
• Participant is approached by the research team within 36 hours of presentation to the hospital
• Participant fully understands and agrees to participate in all aspects of the study, including providing informed consent, completion of interviews and data forms, and collection of biospecimens

Acute pancreatitis is defined/diagnosed using the revised Atlanta criteria, which requires the presence of at least two of the following criteria:

i. Upper abdominal pain ii. Elevation of serum amylase or lipase level to >/=3 times the upper limit of normal iii. Features of AP on cross-sectional imaging.

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of definite chronic pancreatitis (CP) at enrollment (see also study definitions) based on either of the following criteria met by computed tomography (CT) scan (including non-contrast enhanced) or Magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI) or Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP):

i. Parenchymal or ductal calcifications on CT scan (after excluding the possibility that calcifications are vascular) ii. Intraductal filling defects suggestive of calcifications on MRI and/or MRCP iii. Non-contrast imaging is acceptable for the assessment of definite CP, but calcifications noted by endoscopic ultrasound only (and not correlated with CT) are not considered definite CP. Patients with autoimmune pancreatitis, but no evidence of calcifications, may still be enrolled, assuming they satisfy inclusion criteria for 'diagnosis of AP'

• Potential participants with post-ERCP AP who are expected to be hospitalized for less than 48 hours.
• Pancreatic tumors, including ductal adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors, and metastasis.
• Confirmed or suspected cystic tumor associated with main pancreatic duct dilation or believed to be the cause of AP (in the site-PI's judgment).
• Prior pancreatic surgery, including, but not limited to distal pancreatectomy, pancreaticoduodenectomy, pancreatic necrosectomy, and Frey procedure.
• Severe systemic illness that in the judgment of the investigative team will confound outcome assessments and immunological outcomes or pose additional risk for harm, including the history of solid organ transplant, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), active treatment for cancer (except non-melanoma skin cancer) within 12 months prior to enrollment, chronic kidney disease with eGFR <30 or on dialysis prior to AP, and cirrhosis (based on imaging or biopsy), or any other medical condition that in the opinion of the site-PI carries a life expectancy of <12 months.
• Known pregnancy at the time of enrollment.
• Incarceration.
• Any other condition or factor that would compromise the participant's safety or the scientific integrity of the study.