What score predicts severe pancreatitis on the Glasgow-Imrie system?

A score of 3 or more out of 8 at 48 hours predicts severe acute pancreatitis, which carries a significantly higher risk of complications such as pancreatic necrosis, organ failure, and death. Higher scores indicate progressively worse prognosis.

When should the Glasgow-Imrie criteria be assessed?

The criteria are designed to be assessed at 48 hours after hospital admission, when the full inflammatory response has declared itself. Applying them earlier may underestimate severity; applying them later misses the early triage window.

How does the Glasgow-Imrie score differ from the Ranson criteria?

The Ranson criteria use 11 items across two time points (5 at admission, 6 at 48 hours) and were originally validated only for alcoholic pancreatitis. The Glasgow-Imrie score uses 8 items assessed once at 48 hours and has been validated for both alcoholic and gallstone pancreatitis, making it simpler and more broadly applicable.

What is the BISAP score and how does it compare?

The BISAP (Bedside Index for Severity in Acute Pancreatitis) uses 5 criteria assessable at admission rather than 48 hours, making it available earlier. The Glasgow-Imrie score at 48 hours is generally considered to have comparable or slightly better predictive accuracy for severe disease than BISAP at admission.

Does this calculator store any patient data?

No. All calculations run entirely in your browser. Nothing is sent to any server and no data is stored or logged.

Is this tool a substitute for clinical judgment?

No. This calculator is for educational and informational purposes only. All pancreatitis management decisions must be made by qualified healthcare professionals based on complete patient assessment, imaging, and specialist input.

Glasgow-Imrie Pancreatitis Score

Check which of the 8 Glasgow-Imrie criteria are met at 48 hours to predict severe acute pancreatitis and guide ICU triage.

For clinical decision support only. All values should be assessed at 48 hours after hospital admission. Not a substitute for full clinical evaluation.

Glasgow-Imrie Criteria — assessed at 48 hours

Check each criterion that is present. Each adds 1 point.

PaO₂ < 60 mmHg

Arterial partial pressure of oxygen below 60 mmHg on room air

Serum Albumin < 3.2 g/dL

Low albumin indicates capillary leak and systemic inflammation

BUN > 45 mg/dL (or Urea > 16 mmol/L)

Raised blood urea nitrogen reflects renal hypoperfusion or prerenal failure

Serum Calcium < 8.0 mg/dL (< 2.0 mmol/L)

Hypocalcemia due to saponification of peripancreatic fat

Blood Glucose > 180 mg/dL (> 10 mmol/L) — non-diabetic

Stress hyperglycemia from pancreatic endocrine dysfunction; only scored in non-diabetics

Serum LDH > 600 IU/L

Raised lactate dehydrogenase indicates extensive tissue necrosis

WBC > 15,000 /mm³

Leukocytosis reflecting systemic inflammatory response

Age > 55 years

Older age is associated with a higher risk of severe disease

Score Result

out of 8 criteria met

No criteria selected

Select the criteria that are present at 48 hours to see the severity prediction.

Criteria Breakdown

No criteria checked.

Score Interpretation

Score	Severity
0 – 2	Mild — low risk of severe disease
3 – 4	Severe — significant risk; monitor closely
5 – 8	Critical — high risk of complications and death

Summary

The Glasgow-Imrie score (also called the Imrie score or modified Glasgow criteria) is a validated 8-criterion tool for predicting severe acute pancreatitis when applied at 48 hours from admission. Each criterion that is met scores 1 point; a total score of 3 or more defines severe disease with substantially higher risk of complications and death. The criteria cover arterial PaO2, age, serum albumin, blood urea nitrogen, serum calcium, blood glucose, serum LDH, and white blood cell count. Unlike the 11-criterion Ranson score, the Glasgow-Imrie system uses a single 48-hour assessment and applies equally to both alcoholic and gallstone pancreatitis.

How it works

Collect the 8 laboratory and clinical values at 48 hours after admission.
For each parameter, check the box if the value meets the stated threshold.
Each checked criterion adds 1 point; the maximum possible score is 8.
A score of 3 or more indicates predicted severe acute pancreatitis.
Use the severity interpretation alongside clinical judgment and imaging to guide ICU admission, fluid management, and specialist referral.

Use cases

Stratify acute pancreatitis severity at 48 hours for ICU vs. ward admission decisions.
Compare predicted severity to Ranson criteria or BISAP score for multi-system confirmation.
Apply the same scoring system regardless of pancreatitis etiology (gallstone or alcoholic).
Communicate quantified severity risk to surgical or gastroenterology consultants.
Support audit and quality improvement documentation for pancreatitis admissions.
Teach medical students and residents the Glasgow-Imrie scoring system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-14 · Reviewed by Nham Vu