Objective To summarize the recent progress in pathogenetic, diagnostic and therapeutic researches on the intestinal barrier dysfunction (IBD) of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). MethodsThe advancement of IBD in SAP, which was published recently at home and abroad, was collected and reviewed. Results The pathogenesis of IBD in patients with SAP was complex. Ischemia-reperfusion injury, endotoxin, inflammatory mediators and gastrointestinal hormone played an important role in the process of IBD. There were many ways to detect IBD, and the ratio of lactulose and mannitol, plasma diamine oxidase were relatively ideal markers. Medical therapies, such as treatment of SAP and maintaining the perfusion of intestines, were essential to cure IBD. On this basis, the propulsives, nutritional support and traditional Chinese drugs should be administered reasonably. Conclusions IBD is a sophisticated process of pathophysiology. In recent years, abundant of animal experiments and clinical researches have provided new clue for prevention and cure of IBD, but further researches are still needed on the mechanism of the cells and molecules implicated.
Objective To observe the influence of “liqitongxia decoction” on intestinal barrier dysfunction of acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods Forty AP patients were randomly divided into “liqitongxia decoction” group (n=20) and magnesium sulfate group (n=20). APACHE Ⅱ score and gastrointestinal functions score (GFS) on admission， at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and on day 5 after admission were recorded. The ratio of urine lactulose to mannitol (L/M), plasma activity of diamine oxidase (DAO) and the levels of endotoxin, TNF-α and IL-6 on admission, at 72 h and on the day 5 after admission were detected. Results The ratio of severe AP was not significantly different between two groups (P＞0.05). On the day 5 after admission, APACHEⅡscore and GFS in two groups decreased. The ratio of L/M, the activity of DAO, the levels of endotoxin, TNF-α and IL-6 decreased in “liqitongxia decoction” group and elevated in magnesium sulfate group. The APACHE Ⅱ score was not significantly different between two groups on the day 5 of admission (P＞0.05), but the GFS, the ratio of L/M, the activity of DAO, levels of endotoxin, TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly different between two groups (P＜0.05, P＜0.01). Conclusion The “liqitongxia decoction” may ameliorate the intestinal barrier dysfunction of patients with acute pancreatitis.