title: Failure of pentoxifylline to ameliorate severe acute pancreatitis in the rat: results of a prospective, randomized, controlled study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Bassi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Foitzik
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Rattner
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lewandrowski
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Warshaw
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández-del Castillo
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D006002:Glycodeoxycholic Acid; D002108:Ceruletide; D010431:Pentoxifylline