Pentoxifylline Treatment of Acute Pancreatitis

Early Phase 1

Completed

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine the effects (good and bad) of giving a drug called pentoxifylline to patients with acute pancreatitis, to see if it can improve blood tests associated with inflammation (tissue damage). Pentoxifylline is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of circulation problems, but its use in this study is investigational, which means that the FDA has not approved it for the treatment of pancreatitis. However, the FDA has allowed the use of pentoxifylline in this research study.

Detailed Description: Subjects will be put in one of two groups by chance (as in the flip of a coin). This is done so that neither you nor the investigator will know which group you are in.

You will be put into either the treatment group or the control group.

* The treatment group will receive a drug called pentoxifylline

* The control group will receive a placebo (matching pill that has no medication in it) You will take the pills by mouth starting from the time of admission. You will receive a total of 9 doses over the first three days of your hospitalization (72 hours).

When subject have standard patient care blood draws, additional blood will be taken to do the research tests. The additional blood tests will be done every day for up to 5 days, after the administration of study drug or till the time of discharge whichever occurs earlier. The additional tests will require about 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of blood per day; the maximum amount of extra blood taken would be less than 3 tablespoons (40.0 ml). Information from your medical record will be gathered while you are hospitalized and after your discharge. The study will continue to gather clinical follow up information up to four months.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Moderate or severe congestive heart failure
History of seizure disorder or demyelinating disease
Nursing mothers
Pregnancy
History of prior tuberculosis or risk factors for tuberculosis
Evidence of immunosuppression (malignancy, chronic renal failure, chemotherapy within 60 days, ongoing steroid treatment*, and HIV)- (*the exception of prednisone use will be allowed to participate).
Evidence of chronic pancreatitis from history and examination (however, "acute on chronic pancreatitis" diagnosis is allowed)
Evidence of active or pending hemorrhage.
Paralytic ileus with vomiting

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Placebo	Placebo	Placebo, 400 mg, 3 times daily by mouth from time of enrollment until 72 hours from enrollment. Subjects received up to a maximum of 9 doses.
Pentoxifylline	Pentoxifylline	Pentoxifylline, 400 mg, 3 times daily by mouth from time of enrollment until 72 hours from enrollment. Subjects received up to a maximum of 9 doses.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in C-Reactive Protein (CRP)	baseline, Day 1, Day 3	C-reactive protein is produced by the liver. The level of CRP rises when there is inflammation throughout the body. The normal value range for CRP = 1-10 mg/L.
Changes in Interleukin (IL) IL-8	baseline, Day 1, Day 3	Normal value range for IL-8 = 0 - 5 pg/ml.
Change in Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-Alpha	baseline, Day 1, Day 3	Normal value range for TNF alpha = 0 - 22 pg/ml.
Change in Interleukin (IL) IL-6	baseline, Day 1, Day 3	Normal value range for IL-6 = 0 - 5 pg/ml.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of Subjects Who Needed an Intensive Care Unit Stay	30 days, or until dismissal, whichever came first
Length of Hospital Stay	30 days or until dismissal date, whichever occurs earlier
Length of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Stay	30 days or until dismissal date, whichever occurs earlier
Number Of Subjects With New Onset Pancreatic Necrosis During Hospitalization	1 week or until dismissal date whichever occurs earlier
Number of Patients With Lengthy Hospital Stays	30 days or until dismissal date, whichever occurs earlier	"Lengthy" was defined as either greater than 4 days or greater than 10 days.
Number Of Subjects With New Onset Organ Failure During Hospitalization	1 week or until dismissal date whichever occurs earlier.