Fibrinogen and albumin catabolism in experimental pancreatitis in the rat.

A study of techniques for inducing acute pancreatitis in rats has shown that oil pancreatitis is the most consistent. All methods result in increased fibrinogen catabolism, which is in part due to disseminated intravascular coagulation and in part due to the inflammatory reaction in the pancreas. There is also increased albumin catabolism. Increased fibrin embolization to the lungs results in a picture of ‘shock lung’. However, increased fibrinolysis, kallikrein activity and increased reticulo-endothelial activity may explain why there is little permanent fibrin deposition elsewhere. The kidneys develop a polyuric type of acute renal failure. The relevance of intravascular coagulation to shock and pancreatitis will be discussed.