Failure of pentoxifylline to ameliorate severe acute pancreatitis in the rat: results of a prospective, randomized, controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the benefit of pentoxifylline in severe experimental pancreatitis.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, controlled study.


METHODS
Experimental animal laboratory in a University hospital.


METHODS
Forty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats.


METHODS
Acute pancreatitis was induced by supramaximal stimulation with cerulein plus a pressure and volume controlled 10 min intraductal infusion of 10-mM glycodeoxycholic acid. Thirty minutes after pancreatitis was induced, animals were randomized to receive pentoxifylline (60 mg/kg over 2.5 hrs), or saline. All animals received fluid resuscitation with lactated Ringer's solution (8 mL/kg/hr), and surviving animals were killed at 24 hrs.


RESULTS
There was a progressively significant decrease in mean arterial pressure after pancreatitis was induced, with no difference between pentoxifylline-treated rats and controls. Hematocrit increased significantly in both groups at 6 hrs, and returned to baseline values at 24 hrs. Ascites volume and levels of trypsinogen activation peptide in plasma and ascites were similar in both groups. Twenty-four hour mortality was 47% for the pentoxifylline group and 52% for the control group. Histologic scores for necrosis, edema, inflammation, and hemorrhage showed no significant differences between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with pentoxifylline failed to improve outcome in a model of severe acute pancreatitis in the rat.
Bassi
D G
DG
Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114.
Foitzik
T
T
Rattner
D W
DW
Lewandrowski
K
K
Warshaw
A L
AL
Fernández-del Castillo
C
C
D000208:Acute Disease; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002108:Ceruletide; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006002:Glycodeoxycholic Acid; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D006002:Glycodeoxycholic Acid; D002108:Ceruletide; D010431:Pentoxifylline