Clinical Practice Guidelines
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 21, 2008; 14(19): 2968-2976
Published online May 21, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.2968
Pharmacological approach to acute pancreatitis
Ulrich Christian Bang, Synne Semb, Camilla Nøjgaard, Flemming Bendtsen
Ulrich Christian Bang, Synne Semb, Camilla Nøjgaard, Flemming Bendtsen, Department of Gastroenterology, Hvidovre Hospital, Hvidovre DK-2650, Denmark
Flemming Bendtsen, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, København N DK-2200, Denmark
Author contributions: Bang UC and Bendtsen F wrote the manuscript; Semb S and Nøjgaard C revised the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Ulrich Bang, Department of Gastroenterology, Hvidovre Hospital, Kettegaard Allé 30, Hvidovre DK-2650, Denmark. ulrich_bang@dadlnet.dk
Telephone: +45-26748942
Fax: +45-36473311
Received: February 29, 2008
Revised: April 10, 2008
Published online: May 21, 2008
Abstract

The aim of the present review is to summarize the current knowledge regarding pharmacological prevention and treatment of acute pancreatitis (AP) based on experimental animal models and clinical trials. Somatostatin (SS) and octreotide inhibit the exocrine production of pancreatic enzymes and may be useful as prophylaxis against Post Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography Pancreatitis (PEP). The protease inhibitor Gabexate mesilate (GM) is used routinely as treatment to AP in some countries, but randomized clinical trials and a meta-analysis do not support this practice. Nitroglycerin (NGL) is a nitrogen oxide (NO) donor, which relaxes the sphincter of Oddi. Studies show conflicting results when applied prior to ERCP and a large multicenter randomized study is warranted. Steroids administered as prophylaxis against PEP has been validated without effect in several randomized trials. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) indomethacin and diclofenac have in randomized studies showed potential as prophylaxis against PEP. Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is a cytokine with anti-inflammatory properties but two trials testing IL-10 as prophylaxis to PEP have returned conflicting results. Antibodies against tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) have a potential as rescue therapy but no clinical trials are currently being conducted. The antibiotics beta-lactams and quinolones reduce mortality when necrosis is present in pancreas and may also reduce incidence of infected necrosis. Evidence based pharmacological treatment of AP is limited and studies on the effect of potent anti-inflammatory drugs are warranted.

Keywords: Acute pancreatitis; Diclofenac; Gabexate; Indomethacin; Interleukin-10; Necrotizing pancreatitis; Nitrogen oxides; Octreotide; Protease inhibitors; Somatostatin