Efficacy of camostat mesilate against dyspepsia associated with non-alcoholic mild pancreatic disease.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The aim of the present study was to examine the potential efficacy of camostat mesilate, a protease inhibitor, against dyspepsia associated with non-alcoholic mild pancreatic disease.

METHODS:

Patients with upper abdominal pain suggesting pancreatic disease (persistent over hours, pain aggravated by ingestion of food, epigastric pain radiating to the back), without a history of alcohol consumption and who exhibited no abnormalities regarding serum amylase and lipase, ultrasonography, CT and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, were prescribed 200 mg camostat mesilate three times daily for 2 weeks. The patients were subjected to endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) while under treatment and were distributed into those who had 4 or more suggestive findings of chronic pancreatitis (suspected pancreatic disease group), 2 or 3 (equivalent group) and those with 1 or no findings (control group). Symptom severity was recorded before and after treatment using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS).

RESULTS:

Among 95 patients, 40 were in the suspected pancreatic disease group, 30 were in the equivalent group and 25 served as controls. A significant intra- and intergroup improvement of symptoms was observed not only in the suspected pancreatic disease group but also in the equivalent group.

CONCLUSIONS:

Camostat mesilate may serve as a therapeutic agent for patients with dyspepsia associated with mild pancreatic disease, who do not habitually drink alcohol.

• Authors: Jin Kan Sai, Masafumi Suyama, Yoshihiro Kubokawa, Yuji Matsumura, Koichi Inami, Sumio Watanabe
• Journal: Journal of gastroenterology (J Gastroenterol) Vol. 45 Issue 3 Pg. 335-41 (Mar 2010) ISSN: 1435-5922 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 19876587 (Publication Type: Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Esters
• Guanidines
• Protease Inhibitors
• camostat
• Gabexate

Topics

• Abdominal Pain (diagnosis, drug therapy, etiology)
• Adult
• Aged
• Dyspepsia (diagnosis, drug therapy, etiology)
• Endosonography (methods)
• Esters
• Female
• Gabexate (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Guanidines
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pain Measurement
• Pancreatic Diseases (diagnosis, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Prospective Studies
• Protease Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Severity of Illness Index
• Treatment Outcome