Jh. Sweiry et Ge. Mann, ROLE OF OXIDATIVE STRESS IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF ACUTE-PANCREATITIS, Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology, 31, 1996, pp. 10-15
During the last 10 years, the role of oxidative stress in pancreatitis
and the benefits or otherwise of antioxidants has been the subject of
numerous research papers. There is general agreement that glutathione
and other sulphydryl compounds are depleted while lipid peroxidation
is increased in pancreatic tissue during the development of acute panc
reatitis. Treatment with antioxidants has been shown to reduce acinar
cell injury and oedema in various animal models of pancreatitis, sugge
sting that the sustained generation of reactive oxygen species deplete
s cellular antioxidant defences. Evidence for a role for bradykinin an
d nitric oxide in pancreatitis has been conflicting with some studies
suggesting these agents might ameliorate pancreatic dysfunction by enh
ancing pancreatic blood Bow and secretion in response to bradykinin-st
imulated generation of nitric oxide from endothelium, while other stud
ies suggest that nitric oxide potentiates pancreatic oxidative stress.
Thus, there is clearly a need for well-designed clinical trials to ev
aluate the protective role of antioxidant therapy in acute pancreatiti
s.