5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels distinguish perforated from nonperforated appendicitis

5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels in urine significantly differed between patients with perforated and non-perforated appendicitis, indicating its potential as a diagnostic biomarker. Specifically, 5-HIAA was higher in the perforated group (0.5 mg/dl) compared to the non-perforated group (0.3 mg/dl), and the study reported a diagnostic accuracy of 88%, with sensitivity at 82%. These findings suggest that measuring 5-HIAA may enhance the timely diagnosis of acute appendicitis complications.