OBJECTIVETo observe the changes in serum interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) after intravenous administration of alanyl-glutamine (Gln) in patients with severe pancreatitis.

METHODSFifty patients with severe pancreatitis were randomized equally into 2 groups and received standard total parenteral nutrition (TPN) with intravenous infusion of Gln or normal saline (control) for 1 week. The plasma glutamine level was measured with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in these patients one day before and on day 7 of Gln administration, and the serum IL-8, TNF-alpha and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSOn day of Gln administration, the plasma glutamine level in patients of Gln group increased significantly (P<0.01), and serum IL-8 and TNF-alpha levels decreased significantly (P>0.05) in comparison with those of the control group. The patients receiving Gln supplementation had significantly higher serum albumin level and greater body fat content with shorter hospital stay than those in the control group (P<0.05), and the mortality rate in Gln group was also significantly lower (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONGln-enriched TPN may improve the clinical outcomes of patients with severe pancreatitis probably by decreasing serum IL-8 and TNF-alpha levels.