Towards a novel treatment strategy for acute pancreatitis. 2. Principles and potential practice.

In part 1 it was argued that a 'free radical-mast cell' template for the aetiogenesis of acute pancreatitis accommodates the evidence, whereas the prevailing 'trypsin-cytokine' template does not. In this sequel I examine the ramifications of the new philosophy in relation to speedier diagnosis, prognostic aids and, above all, a programme of active treatment which - once validated in experimental studies - could be implemented by the first medical respondent. Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel