The American journal of gastroenterology
-
Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Oct 2010
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialPancrelipase delayed-release capsules (CREON) for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency due to chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic surgery: A double-blind randomized trial.
Pancreatic-enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) is the standard of care to prevent maldigestion, malnutrition, and excessive weight loss in patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) due to chronic pancreatitis (CP) or pancreatic surgery (PS). Our objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of a new formulation of pancrelipase (pancreatin) delayed-release 12,000-lipase unit capsules (CREON) in patients with EPI due to CP or PS. ⋯ Pancrelipase delayed-release 12,000-lipase unit capsules were effective in treating fat and nitrogen maldigestion with a TEAE rate similar to that of placebo in patients with EPI due to CP or PS.
-
Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Oct 2010
Angiopoietin-2, a regulator of vascular permeability in inflammation, is associated with persistent organ failure in patients with acute pancreatitis from the United States and Germany.
Patients with severe acute pancreatitis (AP) typically develop vascular leak syndrome, resulting in hemoconcentration, hypotension, pulmonary edema, and renal insufficiency. Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and 2 (Ang-2) are autocrine peptides that reduce or increase endothelial permeability, respectively. The aim of this study was to determine whether Ang-1 and/or Ang-2 levels are predictive biomarkers of persistent organ failure (>48 h) and prolonged hospital course. ⋯ Elevated serum Ang-2 levels on admission are associated with and may be a useful biomarker of predicting persistent organ failure and ongoing endothelial cell activation in AP.