FAILURE OF PENTOXIFYLLINE TO AMELIORATE SEVERE ACUTE-PANCREATITIS IN THE RAT - RESULTS OF A PROSPECTIVE, RANDOMIZED, CONTROLLED-STUDY

Objective: To investigate the benefit of pentoxifylline in severe expe rimental pancreatitis. Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled stu dy. Setting: Experimental animal laboratory in a University hospital. Subjects: Forty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Interventions: Acu te pancreatitis was induced by supramaximal stimulation with cerulein plus a pressure and volume controlled 10 min intraductal infusion of 1 0-mM glycodeoxycholic acid. Thirty minutes after pancreatitis was indu ced, animals were randomized to receive pentoxifylline (60 mg/kg over 2.5 hrs), or saline. All animals received fluid resuscitation with lac tated Ringer's solution (8 mL/kg/hr), and surviving animals were kille d at 24 hrs. Measurements and Main Results: There was a progressively significant decrease in mean arterial pressure after pancreatitis was induced, with no difference between pentoxifylline-treated rats and co ntrols. Hematocrit increased significantly in both groups at 6 hrs, an d returned to baseline values at 24 hrs. Ascites volume and levels of trypsinogen activation peptide in plasma and ascites were similar in b oth groups. Twenty-four hour mortality was 47% for the pentoxifylline group and 52% for the control group. Histologic scores for necrosis, e dema, inflammation, and hemorrhage showed no significant differences b etween the two groups. Conclusion: Treatment with pentoxifylline faile d to improve outcome in a model of severe acute pancreatitis in the ra t.