Pancreatic Stone Protein: A Promising Biomarker for Sepsis Detection – A Review

Abstract Sepsis is a major healthcare burden, with an estimated global case of 48.9 million in 2017. Despite the evolution in the definitions and diagnostic methods of sepsis, the mortality rate is high. Early diagnosis is the mainstay for sepsis management, and the diagnostic potential of current biomarkers is restricted. Pancreatic stone protein (PSP) is a novel sepsis biomarker, and many studies support its role in early sepsis diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of PSP to use as potential sepsis biomarker. The review was done for a period of 6 months from December 2024 to May 2025. Sources of data are from a systematic search of PubMed and Google Scholar databases to identify relevant studies published between 2010 and 2024 using the keywords “pancreatic stone protein,” “early diagnosis of sepsis,” and “sepsis biomarkers.” Relevant articles such as original research, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews were included. PSP has better sensitivity in diagnosing sepsis prior to the appearance of clinical signs and symptoms, particularly in surgical and intensive care unit patients. However, it lacks specificity due to its elevation in nonseptic conditions such as pancreatitis. Recent studies also suggest combining PSP with other biomarkers to enhance its specificity and diagnostic accuracy. Apart from PSP’s promising use as a sepsis biomarker, further studies should focus on its validation in a large-scale, generalized population. A multi-biomarker approach, with PSP and other routine sepsis biomarkers, is recommended to enhance diagnostic accuracy.