title: Is fatal pancreatitis a consequence of excessive leukocyte stimulation? The role of tumor necrosis factor alpha.
abstract: This study examines the possible role of excessive leukocyte stimulation in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis. Levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and elastase-alpha 1 proteinase inhibitor (E-alpha 1PI) have been measured as markers of macrophage and neutrophil activation, respectively, in serial plasma samples from 27 patients with acute pancreatitis. Levels of TNF-alpha did not support the possibility of excessive macrophage activation, but raised levels of E-alpha 1PI in patients with either the mild or severe form of the illness indicated the activation of neutrophils. Whether this is a consequence of the illness or is a contributory factor in the pathogenesis is not clear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, Old Medical School, University of Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Whicher
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000097:blood; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase