Assessment of severity and prognosis in acute pancreatitis.

Assessment of severity and prognosis in acute pancreatitis was originally driven by clinicians' needs for the prediction of outcome, together with the requirement of researchers for objective measurement of severity. Evaluation of the multitude of competing systems has been hindered by varying definitions of severity, incomplete reporting and a lack of comparative data. Although clinical assessment, Ranson and Glasgow scores remain predominant, the recent literature reflects how needs have changed, as a result of improved understanding of the biological events underlying attacks and technological advances. The Atlanta International Symposium should provide a suitable framework for progress.