Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis
The pancreas and surrounding organs
Specialty
Symptoms
ComplicationsInfection, bleeding, diabetes mellitus,[1] pancreatic cancer, kidney failure, breathing problems, malnutrition[2]
DurationShort or long term[1]
Causes
Risk factorsSmoking[3][4]
Diagnostic methodBased on symptoms, blood amylase or lipase[5][1]
TreatmentIntravenous fluids, pain medication, antibiotics[1]
Frequency8.9 million (2015)[6]
Deaths132,700 (2015)[7]

Pancreatitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the pancreas.[1] The pancreas is a large organ behind the stomach that produces digestive enzymes and a number of hormones.[1] There are two main types: acute pancreatitis, and chronic pancreatitis.[1]

Signs and symptoms of pancreatitis include pain in the upper abdomen, nausea and vomiting.[1] The pain often goes into the back and is usually severe.[1] In acute pancreatitis, a fever may occur; symptoms typically resolve in a few days.[1] In chronic pancreatitis weight loss, fatty stool, and diarrhea may occur.[1][5] Complications may include infection, bleeding, diabetes mellitus, or problems with other organs.[1]

The two most common causes of acute pancreatitis are a gallstone blocking the common bile duct after the pancreatic duct has joined; and heavy alcohol use.[1] Other causes include direct trauma, certain medications, infections such as mumps, and tumors.[1] Chronic pancreatitis may develop as a result of acute pancreatitis.[1] It is most commonly due to many years of heavy alcohol use.[1]

Other causes include high levels of blood fats, high blood calcium, some medications, and certain genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis, among others.[1] Smoking increases the risk of both acute and chronic pancreatitis.[3][4] Diagnosis of acute pancreatitis is based on a threefold increase in the blood of either amylase or lipase.[1] In chronic pancreatitis, these tests may be normal.[1] Medical imaging such as ultrasound and CT scan may also be useful.[1]

Acute pancreatitis is usually treated with intravenous fluids, pain medication, and sometimes antibiotics.[1] Typically eating and drinking are disallowed, and a nasogastric tube is placed in the stomach.[1] A procedure known as an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) may be done to examine the distal common bile duct and remove a gallstone if present.[1] In those with gallstones the gallbladder is often also removed.[1] In chronic pancreatitis, in addition to the above, temporary feeding through a nasogastric tube may be used to provide adequate nutrition.[1] Long-term dietary changes and pancreatic enzyme replacement may be required.[1] Occasionally, surgery is done to remove parts of the pancreas.[1]

Globally, in 2015 about 8.9 million cases of pancreatitis occurred.[6] This resulted in 132,700 deaths, up from 83,000 deaths in 1990.[7][8] Acute pancreatitis occurs in about 30 per 100,000 people a year.[3] New cases of chronic pancreatitis develop in about 8 per 100,000 people a year and currently affect about 50 per 100,000 people in the United States.[9] It is more common in men than women.[1] Often chronic pancreatitis starts between the ages of 30 and 40 and is rare in children.[1] Acute pancreatitis was first described on autopsy in 1882 while chronic pancreatitis was first described in 1946.[9]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae "Pancreatitis". The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. National Institutes of Health. August 16, 2012. Archived from the original on 7 March 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  2. ^ "Patient Care & Health Information > Diseases & Conditions: Pancreatitis". Mayo Clinic. 4 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Lankisch PG, Apte M, Banks PA (July 2015). "Acute pancreatitis". Lancet. 386 (9988): 85–96. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60649-8. hdl:1959.4/unsworks_49570. PMID 25616312. S2CID 25600369.
  4. ^ a b Yadav D, Lowenfels AB (June 2013). "The epidemiology of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer". Gastroenterology. 144 (6): 1252–61. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2013.01.068. PMC 3662544. PMID 23622135.
  5. ^ a b Witt H, Apte MV, Keim V, Wilson JS (April 2007). "Chronic pancreatitis: challenges and advances in pathogenesis, genetics, diagnosis, and therapy". Gastroenterology. 132 (4): 1557–73. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2007.03.001. PMID 17466744.
  6. ^ a b Vos T, et al. (October 2016). "Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 310 diseases and injuries, 1990–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015". Lancet. 388 (10053): 1545–1602. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31678-6. PMC 5055577. PMID 27733282.
  7. ^ a b Wang H, et al. (October 2016). "Global, regional, and national life expectancy, all-cause mortality, and cause-specific mortality for 249 causes of death, 1980–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015". Lancet. 388 (10053): 1459–1544. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(16)31012-1. PMC 5388903. PMID 27733281.
  8. ^ GBD 2013 Mortality Causes of Death Collaborators (January 2015). "Global, regional, and national age-sex specific all-cause and cause-specific mortality for 240 causes of death, 1990–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013". Lancet. 385 (9963): 117–71. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61682-2. PMC 4340604. PMID 25530442.
  9. ^ a b Muniraj T, Aslanian HR, Farrell J, Jamidar PA (December 2014). "Chronic pancreatitis, a comprehensive review and update. Part I: epidemiology, etiology, risk factors, genetics, pathophysiology, and clinical features". Disease-a-Month. 60 (12): 530–50. doi:10.1016/j.disamonth.2014.11.002. PMID 25510320.