Effect of platelet-activating factor antagonists (BN-52021, WEB-2170, and BB-882) on bacterial translocation in acute pancreatitis

Bacterial translocation is an important source of pancreas infection in acu te pancreatitis. The effect of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in the path ogenesis of acute pancreatitis has been proved in various studies. The aim of this study was to determine whether potent PAT antagonists influence bac terial translocation in acute pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis was induced in 62 Wistar rats by injection of 2.5% sodium taurocholate into the biliopa ncreatic duct. The rats treated with PAF factor antagonists received intrav enous injection of WEB-2170 (10 mg/kg), lexipafant (5 mg/kg), and BN-52021 (5 mg/kg) 30 minutes before induction of acute pancreatitis. Six hours afte r induction of acute pancreatitis, bacteriologic cultures and histologic sc oring of tissues were performed. There was a statistically significant redu ction in bacterial translocation to the mesenteric lymph nodes and liver bu t not to the pancreas of the rats treated with PAF antagonists. No signific ant increase in the intestinal bacterial population of any group was found. There were no statistical differences between the pancreatic histologic sc ores of die groups. PAF antagonists reduced bacterial translocation to dist ant sites other than the pancreas, preventing the bacterial dissemination t hat occurs in the early phase of acute pancreatitis and may have beneficial effects on the evolution of this disease.