title: Effect of Dextran 40 and aprotinin on experimental acute pancreatitis.
abstract: This study examines and compares the prophylactic role of aprotinin and Dextran 40 in acute pancreatitis. Experimental acute pancreatitis was induced in 70 male Wistar rats using the closed-duodenal-loop technique. The rats were randomly divided into four groups; sham operation, untreated acute pancreatitis, and therapy with aprotinin or Dextran 40. Samples of blood and urine were collected at the beginning and at the end of the 24-hr period for measurement of amylase and creatinine which allowed calculation of the amylase-creatinine clearance ratio (ACCR). Mortality in the aprotinin group was the same as the untreated rats (20%). Dextran 40 therapy was associated with a lower mortality rate (6.7%). Light microscopic examination confirmed that the histologic changes of acute pancreatitis were less severe in both the aprotinin- and Dextran 40-treated rats. The ACCR was elevated after Dextran 40 therapy, which was due mainly to high urinary amylase levels. These results suggest that Dextran 40 may have a prophylactic role in acute experimental pancreatitis but again emphasizes the high false-positive rate of the ACCR determination.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D007611:Aprotinin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003911:Dextrans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D007611:Aprotinin; D003404:Creatinine; D000681:Amylases