title: The use of lexipafant in the treatment of acute pancreatitis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Western Infirmary, Scotland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Sharples
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Baxter
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Imrie
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D007930:Leucine; C103289:lexipafant