Methylprednisolone in acute canine hemorrhagic pancreatitis

The effect of methylprednisolone on hemodynamics and oxygen transport was investigated in acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis in 13 dogs randomly allocated to a fluid treatment group, a methylprednisolone prophylaxis (MPP) group and a methylprednisolone therapy (MP) group. Methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg) was given as a bolus dose, starting 30 min before induction of pancreatitis in the MPP group and 30 min after induction in the MP group. Acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis was induced with a mixture of trypsin and sodium taurocholate, and hemodynamics and blood gases were monitored for 4.5 hours. MPP improved cardiac output significantly and prevented the initial increase in the arteriovenous oxygen content difference. In the MP group there were no significant differences from the control group in hemodynamics or oxygen transport. Prophylactically administered methylprednisolone thus partially attenuated the hemodynamic changes caused by acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis. It seemed especially to improve cardiac performance, assessed from changes in cardiac output.