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Gabexate for the prevention of pancreatic damage related to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Gabexate in digestive endoscopy--Italian Group.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is associated with elevated levels of pancreatic enzymes and pancreatitis. Gabexate, a protease inhibitor, has been used to prevent pancreatic damage related to ERCP. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, double-blind comparison of gabexate (1 g given by intravenous infusion starting 30 to 90 minutes before endoscopy and continuing for 12 hours afterward) with placebo (mannitol and sodium chloride, administered in the same fashion). A total of 435 adults scheduled to undergo ERCP and, when indicated, endoscopic sphincterotomy underwent randomization; 17 were excluded from the final analysis for various reasons. The remaining 418 patients (mean age, 60.4 years)--208 in the gabexate group and 210 in the placebo group--were analyzed. Acute pancreatitis was considered to be present if serum amylase or lipase levels (or both) were five times greater than the upper limits of normal in association with the onset of pancreatic pain. RESULTS: After the procedures, 276 patients (66 percent) had elevated pancreatic-enzyme levels; the frequency was similar in the two groups. Mean serum amylase values were higher in the placebo group than in the gabexate group through 24 hours of observation (P=0.03). Twelve patients in the gabexate group and 29 in the placebo group had abdominal pain (6 percent vs. 14 percent, P=0.009). Sixteen patients in the placebo group and five in the gabexate group had acute pancreatitis (8 percent vs. 2 percent, P=0.03). Two patients treated with gabexate and six given placebo had adverse events, all of which resolved. Two patients given placebo died of acute pancreatitis; one was excluded from the evaluation because pancreatitis was present before endoscopy. One patient in the gabexate group died, from a myocardial infarction. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic treatment with gabexate reduced pancreatic damage related to ERCP, as reflected by reductions in the extent but not the frequency of elevated enzyme levels and in the frequency of pancreatic pain and acute pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗

[Gabexate mesilate vs gabexate mesilate combined with octreotide in the prevention of postoperative complications of pancreatic surgery: preliminary results].

To date, gabexate mesilate, a synthetic protease inhibitor, has been used in the prophylaxis and treatment of acute pancreatitis, but has yet to be tested in preventing the postoperative complications of pancreatic surgery. For this purpose we planned a pilot study based on two treatment groups, each numbering 25 patients, submitted to high-risk pancreatic resection. In the first group, all patients received a continuous infusion of gabexate mesilate 1 g/day up to postoperative day 4; the second group of patients received the same treatment plus octreotide 0.1 mg every 8 hours for 5 days after surgery. All patients were followed until discharge with clinical and instrumental investigations to detect the onset of postoperative complications. The overall incidences of an uneventful course were 40% (10/25) and 32% (8/25), respectively. We found 12 complications closely related to pancreatic surgery in the former and 8 in the latter group. In the combined treatment group therefore we observe a 33% reduction in the incidence of related abdominal complications (12 vs 8). This favourable trend, however, needs to be confirmed in a larger multicentre trial.

Adolescent↗

Gabexate mesilate, a synthetic protease inhibitor, attenuates carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats.

BACKGROUND: Gabexate mesilate, a synthetic protease inhibitor, is used to treat acute pancreatitis and disseminated intravascular coagulation because it inhibits various serine proteases; however, whether gabexate mesilate prevents acute liver failure has not yet been studied. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of gabexate mesilate in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury in rats. METHODS: Acute hepatic failure was induced by administration of CCl4 intragastrically to male Sprague-Dawley rats. The effects of gabexate mesilate were examined in terms of serum transaminase levels, liver histology, and the prognosis of rats. RESULTS: Gabexate mesilate treatment significantly decreased the elevation of serum transaminase levels and improved liver histology 24 h after the administration of CCl4 (0.2 ml/100 g rat weight). Plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) decreased significantly in the gabexate mesilate-treated rats compared with saline-treated rats. Gabexate mesilate treatment also significantly improved survival rate after a lethal dose of CCl4 (0.5 ml/100 g rat weight) from 0% to 20%. CONCLUSIONS: Gabexate mesilate treatment attenuated CCl4-induced liver injury via a suppression of proinflammatory cytokine production. In addition, these investigations suggest that gabexate mesilate treatment may provide therapeutic strategies for human acute liver failure.

Animals↗

Gabexate mesilate hastens recovery from vecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that gabexate mesilate, a protease inihibitor, hastens recovery from neuromuscular blockade, we examined the effect of gabexate mesilate on the recovery of vecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade in anaesthetized patients in a double-blind, randomized fashion. METHODS: Thirty adult patients were divided into two groups of 15. In the gabexate mesilate group, immediately after administration of vecuronium 0.1 mg kg(-1), a continuous infusion of gabexate mesilate was started at a speed of 1.5 mg kg(-1) h(-1). In the control group, normal saline was administered instead of gabexate mesilate. Times to the return of T1, T2, T3 or T4 (first, second, third and fourth response of train-of-four (TOF)), times to the recovery of T1/control to 0.25 (T25) or 0.5 (T50), recovery of T1/control or TOF ratio (T4/T1) were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Times to the returns of T1, T2, T3 and T4 in the gabexate mesilate group were significantly shorter than in the control group (19.4 +/- 6.8 vs. 25.7 +/- 7.2 min for T1; mean +/- SD, P = 0.020). Times to T25 and T50 were significantly shorter in the gabexate mesilate group than in the control group (34.0 +/- 9.9 vs. 51.3 +/- 10.2 min for T25, P < 0.001). T1/control and TOF ratio in the gabexate mesilate group were significantly higher than in the control group 40-80 min and 40-120 min after administration of vecuronium, respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Gabexate mesilate hastens recovery from neuromuscular block in anaesthetized patients receiving vecuronium.

Adult↗

Gabexate mesilate, a synthetic anticoagulant, inhibits the expression of endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecules in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: Gabexate mesilate, a synthetic protease inhibitor, has been shown to reduce endotoxin-induced pulmonary vascular injury in an animal model of sepsis by inhibiting leukocyte activation. We examined whether gabexate mesilate inhibits tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules in cultured endothelial cells. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled study. SETTING: Research laboratory at a university medical center. SUBJECTS: Cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVECs). INTERVENTIONS: HUVECs were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha or lipopolysaccharide in the presence or absence of gabexate mesilate. Expression of E-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 was measured by cellular enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Messenger RNA levels of E-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. DNA-binding activity of p65 in the nuclear extracts was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha was evaluated by immunocytostaining and Western blot analysis. Degradation and phosphorylation of inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappaB (IkappaB) induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha were evaluated by Western blot analysis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Gabexate mesilate inhibited the tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced increases in the endothelial expression of E-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 by inhibiting the transcription. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced increase in DNA binding of p65 was inhibited by gabexate mesilate through inhibition of the nuclear translocation of p65. Gabexate mesilate inhibited the tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced degradation of IkappaBalpha, an inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappaB, by inhibiting phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha in HUVECs. CONCLUSIONS: Gabexate mesilate inhibited the expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules by inhibiting the nuclear factor-kappaB-mediated transcription in HUVECs. Inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB activation by gabexate mesilate could be explained by inhibition of degradation of IkappaB. Gabexate mesilate might reduce lipopolysaccharide-induced pulmonary vascular injury not only by inhibiting monocytic tumor necrosis factor-alpha production but by inhibiting the expression of endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecules.

Anticoagulants↗

Effects of gabexate mesilate on serum inflammatory cytokines in rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis.

Gabexate mesilate is a synthetic protease inhibitor. The effectiveness of gabexate mesilate in patients with acute pancreatitis is controversial. Proinflammatory cytokines are associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in acute pancreatitis. A compensatory anti-inflammatory response occurs in parallel with SIRS. We investigated the effects of gabexate mesilate on acute necrotizing pancreatitis in rats, emphasizing the changes in serum levels of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Acute necrotizing pancreatitis was induced by retrograde infusion of sodium taurodeoxycholate into the pancreatobiliary duct in rats. The rats were divided into three groups. Group I was given gabexate mesilate 2 mg/kg/h i.v. continuously 1 h before the induction of acute pancreatitis. Group II was given gabexate mesilate the same dose immediately after the induction of acute pancreatitis. Group III was given normal saline as the controls. Serum levels of amylase, lipase, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10, pancreatic histopathology and hemodynamics were examined at 5h after the induction of acute pancreatitis. Gabexate mesilate significantly reduced serum levels of amylase, lipase, tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 at 5 h. Serum levels of interleukin-10 significantly increased in Group I, as compared with Groups II and III. The severity of pancreatic histopathology, the reduction of mean arterial pressure, the volume of ascites and pancreatic wet weight/body weight ratios were also significantly improved by the administration of gabexate mesilate. The beneficial effects of gabexate mesilate on acute pancreatitis may be, in part, due to the modulation of inflammatory cytokine responses.

Amylases↗

Frequency of post-ERCP pancreatitis in a single tertiary referral centre without and with routine prophylaxis with gabexate: a 6-year survey and cost-effectiveness analysis.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Several drugs have been used for the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis with conflicting results and no data referring to the routine use of a pharmacological prophylaxis have been published up to now. Aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of post-ERCP pancreatitis and costs in a series of consecutive patients who have undergone ERCP procedures before and after the introduction of a routine prophylaxis with gabexate in all cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from 1312 patients who underwent ERCP procedures without gabexate prophylaxis and from 1149 consecutive patients with 1g i.v. gabexate, were retrospectively evaluated during a 6-year period. Patients were also subdivided in standard- and high-risk subjects, on the basis of patient- and technique-related risk factors: 984 subjects (39.9%) had one or more conditions that placed them at high risk for post-ERCP pancreatitis. RESULTS: Post-ERCP pancreatitis was reported in 76 out of 2461 patients (3.1%). The frequency of pancreatitis appeared significantly reduced in the gabexate period in comparison with before gabexate in overall cases (2.2% versus 3.9%; p=0.019); however, the reduction was significant only for high-risk patients (3.8% versus 7.3%; p=0.001). Severe hyperamylasaemia at 4-6h and 24h after the procedure was also significantly reduced only in high-risk patients (p=0.001). Routine prophylaxis with gabexate appeared cost-effective in high-risk patients. CONCLUSIONS: Routine gabexate prophylaxis was associated with a significant reduction of post-ERCP pancreatitis rate, severe hyperamylasaemia and hospitalisation-related costs only in high-risk patients. However, gabexate appeared unable to reduce the incidence of severe pancreatitis.

Adolescent↗

Multicentre comparative study of two schedules of gabexate mesilate in the treatment of acute pancreatitis. Italian Acute Pancreatitis Study Group.

AIM: To compare the efficacy of two different schedules of gabexate mesilate (900 mg/day, or 1,500 mg/day) in the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis. SETTING: Forty-two Italian medical and surgical centres took part in the study. STUDY DESIGN: A multicentre, prospective, open label, comparative, parallel-group, randomized study. METHODS: The patients enrolled in the study had acute pancreatitis as demonstrated by typical abdominal pain and baseline serum amylase concentrations more than twice the upper normal limit, findings compatible with acute pancreatitis at imaging techniques, and a Glasgow criteria score of > or =3. Patients were randomly assigned to one of the two schedules of treatment with gabexate mesilate being administered intravenously for at least 7 days. The minimum clinically relevant difference (delta), between groups, in incidence of complications due to acute pancreatitis, during the first month of the study treatment, was predefined as equal to 10%. RESULTS: A total of 199 patients were assigned to gabexate mesilate 900 treatment and 189 to gabexate mesilate 1,500. Complications developed in 88 patients within one month of beginning treatment 44/199: patients (22.1%) in the gabexate mesilate 900 group and 44/189 patients (23.3%) in the gabexate mesilate 1,500 group (difference 1.2%; 95% confidence interval: -7.2; 9.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Gabexate mesilate 900 mg per day is as effective as gabexate mesilate 1,500 mg per day in reducing the complications due to acute pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗

Gabexate mesilate, a synthetic protease inhibitor, reduces ischemia/reperfusion injury of rat liver by inhibiting leukocyte activation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether gabexate mesilate, a synthetic protease inhibitor with anticoagulant properties, prevents hepatic damage by inhibiting leukocyte activation, we examined its effect on ischemia/reperfusion injury of rat liver in which activated leukocytes play a critical role. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled study. SETTING: Research laboratory at a university medical center. SUBJECTS: Male Wistar rats weighing 220 to 280 g. INTERVENTIONS: Hepatic damage was evaluated by changes in bile flow and serum transaminase concentrations after ischemia/ reperfusion. Rats received continuous intravenous infusions of gabexate mesilate (10 mg/kg/hr) or intravenous administration of an inactive derivative of activated factor X (Xa), a selective inhibitor of thrombin generation (3 mg/kg), immediately before the induction of ischemia in the median and left lobes of the liver. To determine whether gabexate mesilate inhibits leukocyte activation, we examined the effects of gabexate mesilate on hepatic concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and rat interleukin-8 and on hepatic myeloperoxidase activity after ischemia/reperfusion. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Hepatic dysfunction, observed after 60 mins of ischemia/reperfusion, showed a reduction in bile flow. The ischemia/reperfusion-induced decrease in bile flow was prevented by administration of gabexate mesilate. Serum transaminase concentrations increased after hepatic ischemia/reperfusion, peaking 12 hrs after reperfusion. Gabexate mesilate significantly inhibited the ischemia/reperfusion-induced increase in serum transaminase levels seen 12 hrs after reperfusion. Although an inactive derivative of factor Xa inhibited the increases in serum levels of fibrin and fibrinogen degradation products 6 hrs after reperfusion, it did not prevent ischemia/ reperfusion-induced liver injury. Hepatic levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, rat interleukin-8, and myeloperoxidase were significantly increased after ischemia/reperfusion. These increases were significantly inhibited by gabexate mesilate but unaffected by an inactive derivative of factor Xa. CONCLUSION: Gabexate mesilate reduced ischemia/reperfusion-induced hepatic injury not by inhibiting coagulation, but by inhibiting leukocyte activation.

Analysis of Variance↗

Effects of gabexate, a protease inhibitor, on smooth muscle of guinea-pig stomach fundus.

A protease inhibitor, gabexate (ethyl-p-6-guanidinohexanoyloxy benzoate), was found to have an antimuscarinic action in muscle strips of the guinea-pig gastric fundus. Gabexate reversibly inhibited carbachol-induced contractions in the presence of prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors (indomethacin or meclofenamate) with a pA2 of 5.66 for the circular and 5.25 for the longitudinal muscle. The effect was not affected by tetrodotoxin. Gabexate also inhibited contractions produced by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) (21.7 +/- 7.3% with 30 microM, n = 12). The inhibition was markedly potentiated by anticholinesterase, diisopropyl fluorophosphate, but converted to contraction by atropine. In the absence of PGE2, gabexate produced no mechanical response on its own even after atropine application. Treatment with hemicholinium, an acetylcholine synthesis inhibitor, also converted the relaxant effect of gabexate, applied during PGE2-induced contraction, to contraction. Gabexate also inhibited contracture induced by 30 mM K+ weakly (13 +/- 2% with 30 microM, n = 5). This relaxation was abolished by atropine, without converting to contraction. PGE2 and excess K+ are likely to release acetylcholine from nerve fibres. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of gabexate is mainly due to the muscarinic receptor blocking action. In addition, gabexate has a potentiating action on the prostaglandin-induced contraction.

Animals↗

Gabexate mesilate, a synthetic protease inhibitor, inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha production by inhibiting activation of both nuclear factor-kappaB and activator protein-1 in human monocytes.

Gabexate mesilate, a synthetic protease inhibitor, was shown to be effective in treating patients with sepsis-associated disseminated intravascular coagulation in which tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plays a critical role. We demonstrated that gabexate mesilate reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tissue injury by inhibiting TNF-alpha production in rats. In the present study, we analyzed the mechanism(s) by which gabexate mesilate inhibits LPS-induced TNF-alpha production in human monocytes in vitro. Gabexate mesilate inhibited the production of TNF-alpha in monocytes stimulated with LPS. Gabexate mesilate inhibited both the binding of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) to target sites and the degradation of inhibitory kappaBalpha. Gabexate mesilate also inhibited both the binding of activator protein-1 (AP-1) to target sites and the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. These observations strongly suggest that gabexate mesilate inhibited LPS-induced TNF-alpha production in human monocytes by inhibiting activation of both NF-kappaB and AP-1. Inhibition of TNF-alpha production by gabexate mesilate might explain at least partly its therapeutic effects in animals given LPS and those in patients with sepsis.

DNA↗

Use of gabexate mesylate in Italian hospitals: a multicentre observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Gabexate mesylate has been proposed as a therapeutic or prophylactic agent in a variety of diseases (e.g. disseminated intravascular coagulation, prophylaxis of pancreatic damage and acute pancreatitis), but its clinical effectiveness is still unclear. As the drug is widely used in Italy, we conducted an observational study to determine the pattern of prescription of gabexate in Italian hospitals and to assess the outcome of patients with acute pancreatitis when this treatment is given. An updated meta-analysis of the use of the drug is also presented. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 20 May to 20 July 2001, all consecutive patients admitted to 13 Italian hospitals were enrolled. The following information was recorded from each patient: indication for the use of gabexate, total dose and duration of gabexate administration, need for surgical treatment and outcome of hospitalization (alive or dead). In the patient subgroup with acute pancreatitis, the outcome data of our observational study were compared with those reported by the randomized trials (RCTs) previously published. For this purpose, the survival data of the RCTs were summarized in an updated meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 170 patients were enrolled in the study. The main clinical indications were acute pancreatitis in 88 cases (52%) and prophylaxis of pancreatic damage in 62 cases (36%). At the end of the study, 80 of the 88 patients treated for acute pancreatitis (91%) were alive and eight (9%) had died. In the subgroup of patients with necrotic-haemorrhagic pancreatitis (n = 10), six died during the observation period. Our meta-analysis showed that gabexate mesylate did not improve survival in comparison with placebo. The meta-analytic odds ratio was 0.70 (95% CI: 0.45-1.09). DISCUSSION: The study described the pattern of use of gabexate mesylate in Italian hospitals and provided information on the outcome of the subgroup treated for acute pancreatitis. A meta-analysis of current data from RCTs, together with our findings, indicates that gabexate mesylate does not significantly improve survival in acute pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗

Selective inhibition of human mast cell tryptase by gabexate mesylate, an antiproteinase drug.

Gabexate mesylate is a non-antigenic synthetic inhibitor of trypsin-like serine proteinases that is therapeutically used in the treatment of pancreatitis and disseminated intravascular coagulation and as a regional anticoagulant for hemodialysis. Considering the structural similarity between gabexate mesylate and arginine-based inhibitors of trypsin-like serine proteinases, the effect of gabexate mesylate on human and bovine mast cell tryptase action was investigated. Values of the inhibition constant (K(i)) for gabexate mesylate binding to human and bovine tryptase were 3.4 x 10(-9) M and 1.8 x 10(-7) M (at pH 7.4 and 37.0 degrees ), respectively. Furthermore, gabexate mesylate inhibited the fibrinogenolytic activity of human tryptase. On the basis of the available x-ray crystal structure of human tryptase, the possible binding mode of gabexate mesylate to human and bovine tryptase was analyzed. Human tryptase inhibition by gabexate mesylate may account for the reported prevention of inflammation, erosion, and ulceration of skin and mucosae.

Animals↗

Effects of gabexate mesilate, a protease inhibitor, on human sphincter of Oddi motility.

Gabexate mesilate is an antiprotease drug, which reduced the severity of pancreatitis and frequency of post-ERCP pancreatitis. In dogs gabexate inhibits sphincter of Oddi motility but no data are available in humans. The aim of this study was to verify by manometry the action of gabexate on human sphincter of Oddi motility. We enrolled 12 patients with idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis (eight males, five females, mean age 46 +/- 8 years). Standard preendoscopic sphincter of Oddi manometry was done in basal conditions and during infusion of gabexate 20 mg/min: basal pressure, amplitude and frequency of phasic contractions, and motility index (amplitude per frequency) were calculated before and after gabexate injection. Statistical analysis was performed by using Wilcoxon rank test for paired data. Six patients had a manometric diagnosis of stenosis (basal pressure greater than 40 mm Hg); six had normal findings. Phasic activity was not evaluable in five patients with stenosis. Basal pressure was unaffected by drug infusion, while gabexate caused a significant reduction of phasic activity, both in terms of frequency (4.5 +/- 1 vs 3.6 +/- 1; P < 0.05) and amplitude (157.4 +/- 44 vs 80.0 +/- 32; P < 0.05) of contractions. Motility index was reduced on average by 49%. In conclusion, this pilot study confirms, in patients with acute recurrent pancreatitis, the inhibitory action of gabexate on sphincter of Oddi motility already described in dogs. This action needs to be revaluated at therapeutic dosages. On the other hand, prophylactic use of the drug should be avoided during sphincter of Oddi manometry, in order to avoid false negative results.

Acute Disease↗

Gabexate mesilate, a synthetic protease inhibitor, attenuates endotoxin-induced pulmonary vascular injury by inhibiting tumor necrosis factor production by monocytes.

OBJECTIVE: In order to determine whether gabexate mesilate, a synthetic protease inhibitor with anticoagulant properties, is useful for the treatment of adult respiratory distress syndrome, we examined its effect on endotoxin-induced pulmonary vascular injury in rats. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled study. SETTING: Research laboratory at a university medical center. SUBJECTS: Male Wistar rats (180 to 220 g.) INTERVENTIONS: Animals received intravenous infusions of endotoxin (5 mg/kg iv) or saline (control). Pulmonary vascular injury was assessed 6 hrs after administration of endotoxin in terms of the increase in vascular permeability. Rats received gabexate mesilate (10 mg/kg ip), heparin, antithrombin III, an inactive derivative of activated factor X (a selective inhibitor of thrombin generation), or N-[2-[4-(2,2-dimethyl-propionyloxy) phenylsulfonylamino] benzoyl] aminoacetic acid (ONO-5046) (a potent granulocyte elastase inhibitor) 30 mins before endotoxin administration. Leukocytopenia was induced by administration of methotrexate. The effects of the gabexate mesilate on the function of activated neutrophils and the production of tumor necrosis factor -alpha (TNF-alpha) by endotoxin-stimulated monocytes were examined in vitro using neutrophils and monocytes prepared from healthy human volunteers. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Pulmonary vascular permeability was determined by measuring the vascular leakage of intravenously administered 125I-labeled bovine serum albumin. Intravenous administration of endotoxin significantly increased pulmonary vascular permeability. Gabexate mesilate significantly inhibited pulmonary vascular injury observed 6 hrs after the administration of endotoxin. Pulmonary vascular injury was not attenuated by the administration of heparin, heparin plus antithrombin III, or the inactive derivative of activated factor X, but pulmonary vascular injury was significantly attenuated in animals with methotrexate-induced leukocytopenia and in those animals treated with N-[2-[4-(2,2-dimethyl-propionyloxy) phenylsulfonylamino] benzoyl] aminoacetic acid. Gabexate mesilate in concentrations of 10(-4) to 10(-3) M inhibited the release of granulocyte elastase and leukocyte aggregation stimulated by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine and the opsonized zymosan-activated production of superoxide radical by neutrophils in vitro. Gabexate mesilate significantly inhibited the endotoxin-induced increase in the serum concentration of TNF-alpha in vivo and, at a concentration of 10(-8) M, the production of TNF-alpha by endotoxin-stimulated monocytes in vitro. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that gabexate mesilate attenuated endotoxin-induced pulmonary vascular injury mainly by inhibiting TNF-alpha production by monocytes, which may play a central role in sepsis-related lung injury.

Animals↗

Clinical trial of gabexate in the prophylaxis of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis.

The objective of the present study was to determine the efficacy of prophylactic administration of gabexate for the prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis, hyperamylasemia and pancreatic pain. Patients scheduled for ERCP were randomized into two groups in a double-blind manner: the patients in the gabexate group were treated with continuous intravenous infusion of 300 mg gabexate dissolved in 500 mL Ringer's solution at 111 mL/h, starting 30 min before the endoscopic maneuvers and continuing up to 4 h after them; placebo group patients were treated only with Ringer's solution also starting 30 min before the endoscopic maneuvers and continuing up to 4 h. Data for 193 patients were analyzed. The incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis was 3 patients (3.1%) in the gabexate group and 10 (10.5%) in the placebo group (P = 0.040). The incidence of hyperamylasemia was 33 patients (33.7%) in the gabexate group and 42 (43.7%) in the placebo group (P = 0.133). The incidence of pancreatic pain was 15 patients (15.3%) in the gabexate group and 28 (29.5%) in the placebo group (P = 0.018). The results suggest that a 4.5-h infusion of gabexate (for a total of 300 mg) could prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis and pancreatic pain.

Abdominal Pain↗

[Gabexate mesilate in the treatment of acute pancreatitis. Results of a Hannover multicenter double-blind study with 50 patients].

We investigated the effect of a new synthetic protease- and phospholipase A2-inhibitor gabexate mesilate (FOY) in a multicenter (6 hospitals in Hannover and vicinity) double-blind study on the clinical course of acute pancreatitis. 50 patients were randomized into two subgroups. One group was treated with 3 X 300 mgs of gabexate mesilate per day for 9 days as a continuous intravenous infusion, the control group received placebo. There was no difference in these two groups regarding age and sex, but there was a discrepancy concerning the severity (stage I-IV) of the acute pancreatitis at the onset of treatment. More of the patients in the gabexate mesilate-group had severe disease on admission to hospital. Of the 7 patients (14%) who died, 5 were in the gabexate mesilate-group whereas only 2 were in the placebo group. This difference in the mortality rate is not significant. There was, however, a significant difference at the 5% level between the verum-group and the control group concerning the decline in alpha-amylase activity in serum and the number of complications. The difference was greatest in alcohol induced acute pancreatitis. A non-parametric test showed a significant reduction in hospitalisation time in the gabexate mesilate-group. Due to the small number of patients and the inhomogeneous clinical course of the acute pancreatitis a definite conclusion concerning the effect of gabexate mesilate on the clinical course of acute pancreatitis is not possible. Further studies with a much greater number of patients and more homogeneous groups with respect to the severity of the acute pancreatitis at the onset of the therapy with gabexate mesilate or placebo are necessary.

Acute Disease↗

Effect of gabexate mesylate (FOY), a drug for serine proteinase-mediated diseases, on the nitric oxide pathway.

Considering the structural similarity between gabexate mesylate (FOY), a drug for serine proteinase-mediated diseases, and L-arginine, the effect of gabexate mesylate on the nitric oxide (NO) pathway has been investigated. Gabexate mesylate inhibits competitively constitutive and inducible NO synthase (cNOS and iNOS, respectively), with Ki values of 1.0 x 10(-4) M and 5.0 x 10(-3) M, respectively, at pH 7.4 and 37.0 degrees C. However, gabexate mesylate is not an NO precursor. Moreover, like other NOS inhibitors, gabexate mesylate increases iNOS mRNA expression in rat C6 glioma cells, as induced by E. coli lipopolysaccharide plus interferon-gamma. Finally, gabexate mesylate inhibits dose-dependently nitrite production (i.e. NO release) in rat C6 glioma cells, as induced by E. coli lipopolysaccharide plus interferon-gamma. Thus, this drug should be administered under careful control, since enzyme inhibition may occur also in vivo.

Animals↗