Administration of warfarin accelerates the recovery in ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is associated with activation of coagulation and there is a close relationship between coagulation and the severity of this disease. Administration of anticoagulants such as heparin or acenocoumarol has shown to reduce the severity of acute pancreatitis and accelerate the recovery. The aim of the current study was to determine the impact of warfarin administration on the course of ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis was induced in rats by pancreatic ischemia followed by reperfusion. Vehicle (1 ml/dose) or warfarin (45, 90 or 180 μg/kg/dose in 1 ml of vehicle) were administered intragastrically once a day. The first dose of warfarin was given 24 h after the start of pancreatic reperfusion. The severity of acute pancreatitis was assessed 2, 5, 9 and 14 days after the beginning of pancreatic reperfusion. Treatment with warfarin reduces pancreatic damage and accelerates recovery in histological examination and this effect is accompanied by a faster reduction in serum activity of pancreatic digestive enzymes, lipase and amylase. In addition, warfarin led to an earlier decrease in serum concentration of pro-inflammatory interleukin-1β and plasma level of D-dimer. These effects were associated with an improvement of pancreatic blood flow. We conclude that warfarin exhibits a therapeutic effect in acute pancreatitis evoked by pancreatic ischemia followed by reperfusion.