The Long Term Outcomes of Micronutrient Antioxidant Supplementation in Patients With Chronic Pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis is the medical term for chronic inflammation of the pancreas. This illness is associated with long-term abdominal pain. In the 1980s it was proposed that chronic pancreatitis was due to a deficiency of protective "antioxidants" in the pancreas and on this basis antioxidant therapy was introduced. This therapy was highly controversial until a large randomised trial of antioxidant therapy in chronic pancreatitis, undertaken in Manchester showed that 6 months intervention with antioxidant therapy was not associated with any change in pain score or improvement in quality of life. Antioxidant therapy is no longer used in modern day pancreatic practice.

However, as with any study, the randomised trial raised some specific questions.

First, does treatment for more than 6 months provide benefit? Second, are there disease sub-types of chronic pancreatitis where antioxidant therapy may benefit?

Given the lack of contemporary use of antioxidant therapy, this question cannot be answered in a prospective study. However, the case records of the Manchester Royal Infirmary contain information on antioxidant treatment in patients who received this therapy over a prolonged period.

Thus the aim of the present study is to review the case notes of patients given a discharge code from the Manchester Royal Infirmary of chronic pancreatitis during the period 1st January 1990 to 1st January 1998 in order to assess whether there is a record of improvement in outcome. Only the case notes will be reviewed and patients will be given an opportunity to opt out.