STEROID-ADMINISTRATION AND ACUTE-PANCREATITIS - STUDIES WITH AN ISOLATED, PERFUSED CANINE PANCREAS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 85  (5) , 520-524
Abstract
Steroid administration has been suspected of causing acute pancreatitis for over 20 yr. Clinical and experimental data have failed to firmly establish the association or to uncover a pathogenic mechanism. Utilizing an isolated, ex vivo, perfused, canine pancreas preparation, the acute effects of large doses of steroids on the pancreas were evaluated. Using a dose of 200 mg of methylprednisolone, there were no significant differences between the control and steroid-treated preparations in terms of gross appearance, weight gain, serum amylase, or pancreatic secretion over a 4 h perfusion period. When the dose of methylpredisolone was increased to 400 mg, again there were no significant differences in gross appearance, weight gain, or serum amylase during a 3 h perfusion period. Pancreatic secretion was initially depressed in the steroid-treated preparations. Following a maximal secretory stimulus (secretin), secretion markedly increased during the 4th h of perfusion, but again was significantly increased in the steroid-treated glands. These studies suggest that steroids have a mild inhibitory effect on pancreatic secretion, which might be mediated through an increase in viscosity.