VWF and alkaline phosphatase measurement: vWF function as indicated by the vWF ristocetin cofactor activity (vWF:RCo) was significantly higher in patients with severe/necrotizing AP at day 1 (median 401% vs. 266%, P = 0.014) in the prospective cohort but not in the ICU cohort (median 177% vs. 129%, P = 0.67).