Efficacy of camostat mesilate against dyspepsia associated with non-alcoholic mild pancreatic disease.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to examine the potential efficacy of camostat mesilate, a protease inhibitor, against dyspepsia associated with non-alcoholic mild pancreatic disease.


METHODS
Patients with upper abdominal pain suggesting pancreatic disease (persistent over hours, pain aggravated by ingestion of food, epigastric pain radiating to the back), without a history of alcohol consumption and who exhibited no abnormalities regarding serum amylase and lipase, ultrasonography, CT and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, were prescribed 200 mg camostat mesilate three times daily for 2 weeks. The patients were subjected to endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) while under treatment and were distributed into those who had 4 or more suggestive findings of chronic pancreatitis (suspected pancreatic disease group), 2 or 3 (equivalent group) and those with 1 or no findings (control group). Symptom severity was recorded before and after treatment using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS).


RESULTS
Among 95 patients, 40 were in the suspected pancreatic disease group, 30 were in the equivalent group and 25 served as controls. A significant intra- and intergroup improvement of symptoms was observed not only in the suspected pancreatic disease group but also in the equivalent group.


CONCLUSIONS
Camostat mesilate may serve as a therapeutic agent for patients with dyspepsia associated with mild pancreatic disease, who do not habitually drink alcohol.
Sai
Jin Kan
JK
Department of Gastroenterology, Juntendo University, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan. jinkans@med.juntendo.ac.jp
Suyama
Masafumi
M
Kubokawa
Yoshihiro
Y
Matsumura
Yuji
Y
Inami
Koichi
K
Watanabe
Sumio
S
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D019160:Endosonography / Q000379:methods; D004952:Esters; D005260:Female; D016670:Gabexate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006146:Guanidines; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004952:Esters; D006146:Guanidines; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; C034532:camostat; D016670:Gabexate