Background and Study Aims: Acute pancreatitis is the most frequent and difficult-to-avoid complication of endoscopic
retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Corticosteroids, potent anti-inflammatory
drugs, and allopurinol - a xanthine oxidase inhibitor that blocks the generation of
oxygen-derived free radicals - may be potentially effective in preventing post-ERCP
pancreatitis. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the effect of prophylactic
oral corticosteroids and allopurinol on the incidence and severity of procedure-induced
pancreatitis.
Patients and Methods: 300 patients were randomly assigned to receive oral prednisone (40 mg), allopurinol
(200 mg), or placebo 15 h and 3 h prior to ERCP. The diagnosis and grading of ERCP
complications were based on commonly accepted criteria. Patients receiving prednisone
or allopurinol were compared with the placebo group in a search for differences in
pancreatitis rates associated with endoscopic techniques.
Results: The overall incidence of pancreatitis was 10.7 %, with 12 % in the prednisone group,
12.1 % in the allopurinol group, and 7.9 % in the placebo group. There were no statistical
differences in the incidence or distribution of severity grades between the groups,
although severe pancreatitis occurred only in the prednisone and allopurinol groups.
Multiple cannulations and prolonged manipulations of the papilla of Vater were identified
as risk factors for ERCP-induced pancreatitis.
Conclusions: Neither prednisone nor allopurinol showed a beneficial influence on the incidence
and severity of post-ERCP pancreatitis.
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A. Budzyńska,M.D.
Dept. of Gastroenterology
Silesian Medical Academy
Medykow 14
40-752 Katowice
Poland
Fax: + 48-32-252 31 19
eMail: kga@infomed.slam.katowice.pl