Objective To investigate the relationship of mitogen activated protein kinase p38(p38 MAPK)levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC) and disease severity in patients with acute pancreatitis(AP). Methods Twenty-nine patients with mild acute pancreatitis(MAP group),twenty-three patients with severe acute pancreatitis(SAP group),and twenty-one healthy volunteers(control group)were evaluated in this study.Levels of p38 MAPK mRNA in PBMC were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction.Protein levels...