Clinical and experimental aspects of free radicals in chronic pancreatitis

Free radicals have been suspected to play an important role in the pathogenicity of chronic pancreatitis. We reviewed studies on free radicals in chronic pancreatitis in both c1inical and experimental aspects. Many clinical studies have provided circumstantial evidence for the close relation between free radicals and chronic pancreatitis. However, few experimental studies in animals on relation between free radicals and chronic pancreatitis have been reported, because adequate experimental models for elucidating a pathological role of free radicals in chronic pancreatitis have not been established. The research concerning the role of free radicals in chronic pancreatitis is expected to improve our understanding the pathological mechanisms of the disease.

慢性肺炎の発症機序は不明な点が多いが､フリーラジカルがそれに関与することが示唆する報告も多い｡しかし,その直接的な証明はなされていない｡慢性膵炎の病態にフリーラジカルがどのように関与するかを理解することは慢性膵炎の発症機序の解明の一助になると考え,臨床的および実験的側面から慢性膵炎とフリーラジカルの関係を概説した｡