The use of lexipafant in the treatment of acute pancreatitis.
The pathophysiology of systemic organ failure in acute pancreatitis has been the subject of debate for many years but there is growing evidence that increase production of pro-inflammatory cytokines plays an important role. from this work and from the results of studies in experimental pancreatitis there exists a rationale for the use of PAF antagonists in the treatment of acute pancreatitis. Two pilot studies have now demonstrated a beneficial effect of the PAF antagonist Lexipafant on acute pancreatitis which may lead to an important advance in the treatment of these patients. A multicentre trial aiming to recruit 300 patients with severe acute pancreatitis is now underway in the UK, the results of which will be awaited with interest.
McKay
C
C
Department of Surgery, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Western Infirmary, Scotland.
Curran
F J
FJ
Sharples
C E
CE
Young
C A
CA
Baxter
J N
JN
Imrie
C W
CW
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007930:Leucine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology
D007093:Imidazoles; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D007930:Leucine; C103289:lexipafant