Randomized study of the effect of pentoxifylline or octreotide on serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Objectives: To study the effect of pentoxifylline and octreotide administration on serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6, in patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), whether they developed pancreatitis or not.

Methods: Out of 590 patients undergoing ERCP, 30 who developed pancreatitis and 25 who did not (controls) were enrolled. Pentoxifylline was given to 23 patients (15 with and eight without pancreatitis) and octreotide to 19 patients (nine with and 10 without pancreatitis, respectively).

A randomized controlled trial of pentoxifylline for the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Background: Pentoxifylline can ameliorate pancreatitis in animal models because of its anti-tumor necrosis factor properties.

Objective: Our purpose was to study the safety and efficacy of pentoxifylline in the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Design: Patients due to undergo ERCP for various indications were randomized to receive pentoxifylline 400 mg orally 3 times, beginning the day before ERCP (2 and 10 pm) until the night after the procedure (6 am and 2 and 10 pm) or to receive no preventive medication.

MR cholangiography in the evaluation of patients with duodenal periampullary diverticulum.

Objective: This retrospective study evaluates the relationship between periampullary duodenal diverticula and the common bile duct (CBD).

Materials And Methods: The patients were examined with HASTE breath hold MR cholangiography (MRC) using a 1 T Siemens Expert Plus Scanner. Axial T2-weighted images were also obtained in all patients.