Use of angiotensin II receptor blockers and the risk of acute pancreatitis: a nested case-control study.
BACKGROUND
There is no specific treatment against acute pancreatitis (AP). A protective effect by angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) on AP has been suggested experimentally, but clinical evidence is scarce.


METHODS
We conducted a population-based case-control study using The Health Improvement Network in the United Kingdom, comprising about 167,000 hypertensive patients in the study period 1996-2005. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, odds ratios were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Adjustments included sex, age, calendar year, body mass index, tobacco smoking, alcohol, general practitioner visits per year, and various antihypertensive medications with regard to exposure to ARB, and risk of AP.


RESULTS
Among 633,281 person-years at risk, 265 new cases of AP were identified. Current users of ARB had a 37% statistically non-significant reduced risk of developing AP as compared to non-users (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.38-1.02). No clear association was found between use of other antihypertensive drugs and risk of AP.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study adds some support to previous experimental findings. Use of ARB might be associated with a reduced risk of AP. More research is needed to elucidate the potential role of ARB in the development of AP in the clinical setting.
Sjöberg Bexelius
Tomas
T
Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Esophageal and Gastric Research (ESOGAR), Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden. tomas.sjoberg@ki.se
García Rodríguez
Luis A
LA
Lindblad
Mats
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents