BENEFICIAL-EFFECTS OF TAUROLIDINE IN EXPERIMENTAL PANCREATITIS

Taurolidine has potent antiendotoxin and antimicrobial effects in vitr o. This study assessed the effect of taurolidine in a well-described m odel of acute pancreatitis. Ninety-five male Wistar rats (250 g) were studied. Pancreatitis was induced by intraductal injection of 50 mu l of a 4% sodium taurocholate solution at a pressure of 25 cm water. Ani mals were randomly allocated to 1 of 10 groups: 4 groups were used to characterize the model and there were 6 treatment groups. Taurolidine (100 mg/kg) or saline was administered intravenously at Time 1, 4 hr, or 4 and 24 hr following induction of pancreatitis. Serum amylase, end otoxin levels, and blood cultures were assessed at 4 and 24 hr. Surviv al was documented at 1 week. Serum amylase levels were elevated in ani mals in whom acute pancreatitis was induced; however, there was no dif ference in serum amylase between animals treated with taurolidine and those treated with saline. Positive blood cultures were more numerous in saline-treated groups. Treatment with taurolidine was associated wi th significantly (P < 0.01) lower endotoxin levels (14+/-8 pg/ml) comp ared with saline-treated animals (350+/-87 pg/ml). Taurolidine adminis tration significantly improved survival compared with controls, when g iven at 4, 24, and 4/24 hr postinduction of pancreatitis (P < 0.05). T aurolidine was beneficial in this model of acute pancreatitis. (C) 199 4 Academic Press, Inc.