Effect of Transcranial Electrical Stimulation on Markers of Acute-Phase Response and Pyroptosis in Acute Pancreatitis

Objective: To evaluate the effects of transcranial electrical stimulation (TES therapy) on markers of the acute-phase response and pyroptosis, including blood levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18), ferritin, and leukocyte count in patients with acute pancreatitis. Materials and methods: This prospective, single-center study included 40 patients with acute pancreatitis. Of these, 20 patients (comparison group) received standard therapy, while the remaining 20 patients (main group) received the same treatment combined with TES therapy (one session per day for 7 days, with a current intensity of up to 2 mA). IL-18, ferritin, and leukocyte count were assessed on the day of admission and on day 7. Results: On the day of admission, the two groups did not differ statistically significantly in demographic, clinical, and any assessed biochemical parameters. On day 7, the median ferritin and IL-18 concentrations and leukocyte count were lower in the main group than in the comparison group by 21.05% ( p = 0.062), 30.16% ( p < 0.001), and 65.97% ( p = 0.048), respectively. No complications related to TES therapy were observed. Conclusion: The addition of TES therapy to standard treatment for acute pancreatitis was associated with a more pronounced reduction in the levels of markers of the acute-phase response and pyroptosis than treatment without TES.