Role of vitamin C and rectal indomethacin in preventing and alleviating post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis: a clinical study

Efficacy of 2-Mercaptoethane Sulfonate Sodium (MESNA) in the Prevention of Pancreatitis After Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: A Randomized Open Label Trial

Background and Aim

Oxidative stress has been considered a factor in the development of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP). The present clinical trial evaluated whether adding intravenous mesna to rectal indomethacin could prevent or alleviate PEP.

Methods

An open-labeled clinical trial was done on 698 participants undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Eligible patients received 100 mg indomethacin suppository 30 min before undergoing ERCP. Randomly, the participants received 400 mg intravenous mesna or nothing 30 min before doing the procedure. The PEP incidence and degree were measured in the patients as the main outcome.

Results

The total rate of PEP was equal to 13.7%. No significant difference was seen in the rate and severity of PEP between the mesna plus indomethacin and indomethacin alone arms (14% vs. 13.4%, respectively, p = 0.671). In high-risk patients, PEP rate and severity were lower in the mesna plus indomethacin group compared with indomethacin alone group and the statistical analysis showed that the difference was significant (41.7% vs. 51.8%, respectively, p = 0.033).

Conclusion

In high-risk patients undergoing ERCP, a combination of intravenous mesna plus rectal indomethacin may decrease the PEP rate and severity.

Reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress in acute pancreatitis: Pathogenesis and new therapeutic interventions

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common acute gastrointestinal disorder affecting approximately 20% of patients with systemic inflammatory responses that may cause pancreatic and peripancreatic fat necrosis. This condition often progresses to multiple organ failure, significantly increasing morbidity and mortality. Oxidative stress, characterized by an imbalance between the body's reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants, activates the inflammatory signaling pathways. Although the pathogenesis of AP is not fully understood, ROS are increasingly recognized as critical in the disease's progression and development. Modulating the oxidative stress pathway has shown efficacy in mitigating the progression of AP. Despite numerous basic studies examining this pathway, comprehensive reviews of recent research remain sparse. This systematic review offers an in-depth examination of the critical role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis and progression of AP and evaluates the therapeutic potential of antioxidant interventions in its management.

Double-guidewire technique for selective biliary cannulation does not increase the rate of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis in patients with naïve papilla

BACKGROUND/AIMS

This study aimed to compare the safety of the double-guidewire technique (DGT) with that of the conventional single-guidewire technique (SGT) in real-world situations.

METHODS

A total of 240 patients with naïve papilla who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) at Daegu Catholic University Medical Center between January 2021 and December 2021 were included. The primary outcome was the rate of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) in the SGT and DGT groups.

RESULTS

A total of 163 patients (67.9%) belonged to the SGT group, and 77 (32.1%) belonged to the DGT group. The rates of successful biliary cannulation were 95.7% and 83.1% in the SGT and DGT groups, respectively (p=0.002). In the study group, PEP occurred in 14 patients (5.8%). The PEP rates were not significantly different between the SGT and DGT groups (4.3% vs. 9.1%, p=0.150). In the multivariate analysis, the age of <50 years (odds ratio [OR], 9.305; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.367-63.358; p=0.023) and hyperlipidemia (OR, 7.384; 95% CI, 1.103-49.424; p=0.039) were significant risk factors for PEP in the DGT group.

CONCLUSION

DGT did not increase the PEP rate in patients with naïve papilla. In addition, the age of <50 years and hyperlipidemia were significant risk factors for PEP in the DGT group.