Steroids do not alter pancreatic blood supply in hypovolemic dogs: implications on steroid action in acute pancreatitis.

A recent report from our laboratory showed that pancreatic inflammation induced by hypovolemic shock can be explained to some extent by spoliation in pancreatic perfusion as revealed by electromagnetic flow determinations on the gastroduodenal artery (GDA). On the other hand, when given early in the course of hypovolemic shock, methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) alleviated pancreatic inflammation as evidenced by gross and histological findings. Five dogs (18-23 kg) were submitted to a 3-hour hypovolemic shock (mean arterial blood pressure, MABP = 50 mm Hg) and received during bleeding 35 mg/kg of MPSS over a 30 min period. Recordings of cardiac output (CO), MABP, regional blood flows in the GDA and superior mesenteric (SMA) arteries were taken every 15 min. The effect of MPSS was appreciated by comparing GDA flow variations in this group with those previously published of a control group comprised of 12 dogs submitted to 3 hours of hypovolemic shock without steroids; operative protocol was in all points similar in both groups. At no time were any significant changes noted when MPSS was added as far as CO and GDA flows were concerned. In other words, the beneficial action of steroids on hypovolemic pancreases cannot be explained by alteration in regional blood flow.