INHIBITION OF TNF-ALPHA IMPROVES SURVIVAL IN AN EXPERIMENTAL-MODEL OFACUTE-PANCREATITIS

The development of systemic complications in acute pancreatitis is lar gely responsible for the mortality associated with this disease. The s ystemic sequelae encountered in acute pancreatitis are similar to thos e occurring in patients with septic shock, a syndrome of multiple orga n failure thought to be related to overproduction of inflammatory cyto kines. As with sepsis, data is mounting that cytokines, particularly T NF alpha, may play a central role in acute pancreatitis and mediate th e systemic sequelae of the disease. We have previously shown elevated levels of TNF alpha in the serum of animals with experimental acute pa ncreatitis. In this study, we use a bile-infusion model of pancreatiti s in the rat to show amelioration of disease severity as well as a dis tinct survival advantage by TNF alpha blockade using anti-TNF alpha po lyclonal antibody. These data provide strong evidence that TNF alpha i s a major contributor to the morbidity and mortality from acute pancre atitis.