Background and purpose: Oxygen free radicals appear in the early phase of acute pancreatitis followed by an imbalance between the oxygen and anti-oxygen system. Sodium selenite may play an important role in the reduction of radicals in experimental pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of selenium in a clinical prospective trial.
Patients and methods: 70 patients with acute pancreatitis were prospectively allocated to a selenium and a placebo group. Clinical and paraclinical parameters were investigated with a follow-up of 90 days after hospital stay.
Results: The clinical course of the two treatment groups did not show statistically significant differences. Five patients in the selenium and three patients in the placebo group died. Depending on selenium therapy, antioxidant substances were presented in higher levels. All 17 clinical parameters showed no statistical significance.
Conclusion: Substitution of sodium selenite has no beneficial effect on the clinical outcome of patients with acute pancreatitis.