Continuous intraarterial infusion of protease inhibitors in acute pancreatitis

Low-molecular-weight protease inhibitors were synthesized and developed in Japan and are in clinical use there for the treatment of acute pancreatitis . However, protease inhibitors are not acknowledged as drugs for the treatm ent of pancreatitis in other countries. in a recent study in 30 patients wi th necrotizing pancreatitis, survival rate was improved (mortality rate 13. 3%) by continuous intraarterial administration of low-molecular-weight prot ease inhibitors as compared to conventional treatment. In Italy it was repo rted that pancreatic disorder decreased after the administration of low-mol ecular-weight protease inhibitors before the start of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Low-molecular-weight protease inhibitors may be potential alternative drugs for the treatment and/or prevention of acute pa ncreatitis and, therefore, warrant further evaluation. (C) 2000 Prous Scien ce. All rights reserved.