Pharmacological therapy for acute pancreatitis: where are we now? where are we going?

Acute pancreatitis is a disease of variable severity that can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Current management has remained limited to supportive measures and the treatment of complications. A myriad of pharmacologic therapies targeting various aspects of the underlying pathophysiology have been evaluated over the past few decades. These have included antisecretory agents, protease inhibitors, antioxidants, immunomodulators, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, and prophylactic antibiotics. A few of these therapies have demonstrated promise in significantly altering the progression of this disease. Further studies are needed to clearly elucidate these benefits in patients at risk for poor outcomes.