[Decreasing mortality in acute pancreatitis with sodium selenite. Clinical results of 4 years antioxidant therapy].

UNLABELLED

Results obtained from pancreatitis research prove the genesis if free radicals in acute pancreatitis. Xenobiotics, ethanol as well as biliary diseases will induce a deficiency in antioxidants. In antioxidative treatment sodium selenite as a water soluble redox substance represented an alternative. In the middle of the year 1990 the therapy regime was introduced in Rostock, a short time later in Dresden too. The diagnosis was made by CT enhanced by a contrast medium as well as by clinical and paraclinical parameters. CT was repeated after a week. Up to May 31, 1994 there were 245 patients treated in Rostock and 85 patients in Dresden (n = 330). Immediately after making the diagnosis 200 micrograms were given as a bolus, 800 micrograms in the following 24 hours. From the second day on 500 micrograms of selenite were administered daily. In addition, infusions of carbohydrates, electrolytes (no calcium), fluid and analgetics were given. Lavation of the intestine was made three times daily. With a well-timed selenium therapy the rates of letality, complications and operation dropped drastically. In spite of a constant number of patients no patient has died in Rostock since 1993, in Dresden 8 of 85 patients came ad exitum. Complications occurred if the therapy began too late (if patients were administered too late) and in biliary forms.

CONCLUSION

An improvement in the prognosis of acute pancreatitis can be achieved if antioxidative selenium therapy with sodium selenite is introduced in time. In rare cases total necroses and complications in organs only occurred in those patients who were admitted to this therapy too late.