[Endotoxinemia in acute pancreatitis (author's transl)].

In a clinical study the question was asked, whether endotoxinemia of intestinal origin accompanying acute pancreatitis would influence decisively the course of this disease. In 21 of 32 patients with acute pancreatitis endotoxinemia could be diagnosed by the Limulus test, in this group 9 patients died. In the group of patients without endotoxinemia however no patient died. Extrapancreatic complications as for instance coagulation defects, renal failure, and pulmonary changes were predominant in the patients with endotoxinemia. From these findings the conclusion is made, that endotoxinemia occurs frequently in acute pancreatitis and influences decisively the course of the disease.