Allopurinol Versus Epinephrine in the Prevention of Post Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Pancreatitis

This study was to evaluate and investigate the effects of using different drugs on reducing the frequency and severity of Post- ERCP pancreatitis. The study was done on 90 randomized patients with extrahepatic cholestasis and divided into three groups. Post ERCP pancreatitis was diagnosed by laboratory investigations, ultra-sonography and triphasic abdominal CT criteria of pancreatitis. The results of this study showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the percentage of knife precut between the studied groups. There was a statistically significant difference in the degree of post ERCP pancreatitis during comparison the control group with each studied drug group, in which allopurinol has a protective role in the occurrence of post ERCP pancreatitis by regression analysis. It is concluded to use allopurinol before ERCP procedure.