A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF THE ANTISECRETORY AND THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF CIMETIDINE AND GLUCAGON IN HUMAN ACUTE-PANCREATITIS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 56  (8) , 499-503
Abstract
Nasogastric suction, glucagon and cimetidine are proposed treatments for human acute pancreatitis because they may reduce gastric acid and exocrine pancreatic secretion. The functional status of gastric and pancreatic secretion during human acute pancreatitis is unknown. The effects of nasogastric suction, i.v. glucagon (5 .mu.g/kg per h) and cimetidine (2 mg/kg per h) on the output of acid and pancreatic enzymes and the clinical course of human acute pancreatitis were compared. In 3 subjects with acute alcoholic pancreatitis, gastric acid secretion was increased above normal and was decreased by glucagon and cimetidine used alone and in combination. In 2 of the 3 patients, duodenal output of trypsin and lipase was normal or increased and was reduced by glucagon and cimetidine given alone or in combination. Patients (20) with documented acute pancreatitis randomly received treatment with nasogastric suction, cimetidine alone, or the combination of cimetidine and glucagon. Of the 5 complications observed during the trial, 4 occurred in the combination-treatment group (P < 0.05). Administration of cimetidine alone or with glucagon did not improve the outcome when compared with nasogastric suction.