Effect of octreotide on the prevention of hyperamylasemia after ERCP in Saudi Arabia: a prospective study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Acute pancreatitis is a serious complication of ERCP. Octreotide as prophylaxis against ERCP-induced hyperamylasemia has produced conflicting results. A review article has called for additional controlled studies. This work was undertaken to see the effect of octreotide in ERCP-induced enzyme changes in a predominantly Saudi population.

SUBJECTS & METHODS:

The setting was a university teaching hospital, Eastern Saudi Arabia. The study was prospective, randomized and controlled and the subjects were 50 consecutive adult in-patients. Octreotide, 200 tg subcutaneous, was used in the study group (27 patients). Levels of serum amylase and lipase were estimated three times post-ERCP; mean values were compared with the control group (23 patients) using student t test.

RESULTS:

A total of 50 patients were studied. Their mean age was 43 (range 19 to 70); 30 were female, a male:female ratio of 1:1.5. The two groups were comparable in terms of age, sex and nationality as well as clinical, haematological and biochemical variables. In both groups, the serum levels of amylase and lipase 4 hours post-ERCP were significantly higher compared with base line levels. However, there were no statistical differences between the mean post-ERCP values within as well as between the two groups of patient studied. However, the pattern of response appeared to be different when amylase was compared with lipase.

CONCLUSION:

Prophylactic octreotide, in the regimen used in this study, does not protect against post-ERCP hyperamylasemia and hyperlipasemia. The observed apparent difference in the pattern of serum amylase and lipase remains to be confirmed.

• Authors: N Al Awad
• Journal: Saudi journal of gastroenterology : official journal of the Saudi Gastroenterology Association (Saudi J Gastroenterol) Vol. 6 Issue 1 Pg. 37-40 (Jan 2000) ISSN: 1998-4049 [Electronic] India
• PMID: 19864727 (Publication Type: Journal Article)