Pancreastasis,a metabolic blockade to exocytosis, seems to provoke pancreatitisthrough a reversal in secretory polarity. Oxidative stress appears to be seminal in each phase of this evolution, such that inflammation is intrinsically oriented towards the systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Therefore a parenteral cocktail of antioxidants to include components and refurbishers of the intracellular methionine transsulfuration pathway is poised to offer first-line medical treatment to every patient with pancreatitis. Until the efficacy of this approach is proved, the provision of antioxidant supplements should logically be part and parcel of standard damage-limiting measures when multiple organ dysfunction occurs.