A double-blind, randomised, controlled trial to study the effects of an enteral feed supplemented with glutamine, arginine, and omega-3 fatty acid in predicted acute severe pancreatitis.
BACKGROUND
Current best evidence is in favour of early institution of enteral feeding in acute severe pancreatitis with promising results from trials in immunonutrition on other patient groups.


OBJECTIVE
To identify which groups of patients and products are associated with benefit, we investigated immunonutrition in patients with predicted acute severe pancreatitis.


METHODS
A randomised trial of a study feed containing glutamine, arginine, tributyrin and antioxidants versus an isocaloric isonitrogenous control feed was undertaken.


METHODS
Thirty-one patients with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis predicted to develop severe disease: 15 study feeds and 16 control feeds.


METHODS
Enteral feeding via nasojejunal tube for 3 days. If patients required further feeding the study was continued up to 15 days.


METHODS
Reduction in C-reactive protein (CRP) by 40 mg/L after 3 days of enteral feeding was the primary endpoint. Carboxypeptidase B activation peptide (CAPAP) levels were taken at regular intervals.


RESULTS
After 3 days of feeding, in the study group 2/15 (13%) of patients had reduced their CRP by 40 mg/L or more. In the control group 6/16 (38%) of patients had reduced their CRP by this amount. This difference was found to be near the statistical significant limit (P=0.220).


CONCLUSIONS
The cause of the unexpectedly higher CRP values in the study group is unclear. The rise in CRP was without a commensurate rise in CAPAP or outcome measures so there was no evidence that this represented pancreatic necrosis. The contrast between the CRP and CAPAP results is of interest and we believe that specific pancreatic indices such as CAPAP should be considered in larger future studies.
Pearce
Callum B
CB
Department of Gastroenterology, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, United Kingdom. pearcey@screaming.net
Sadek
Sami A
SA
Walters
A Marisia
AM
Goggin
Patrick M
PM
Somers
Shaw S
SS
Toh
Simon K
SK
Johns
Tim
T
Duncan
Hamish D
HD
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005973:Glutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000975:Antioxidants; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D010455:Peptides; D014280:Triglycerides; C110925:carboxypeptidase B activation peptide; D005973:Glutamine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D001120:Arginine; C005830:tributyrin