Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction

Chronic pancreatitis is progressive inflammation of the pancreas, caused by repeated tissue injury and premature enzyme activation.

Chronic pancreatitis may develop gradually after multiple episodes of acute pancreatitis.

This ongoing damage leads to enzyme-mediated autodigestion and immune activation, resulting in tissue destruction, fibrosis, and eventual pancreatic atrophy.

These pathological changes can arise from various causes.

While chronic alcohol use is the most common risk factor, others include hypertriglyceridemia, smoking, ductal obstruction, and elevated calcium levels.

Some cases happen without an identifiable cause and are considered idiopathic.

Symptoms often begin as chronic or post-prandial pain in the upper abdomen, potentially radiating to the back.

Progressive tissue damage impairs the pancreas’s exocrine function.

This leads to bloating, steatorrhea, malabsorption, and unintentional weight loss.

Loss of insulin-producing cells leads to endocrine dysfunction, often resulting in diabetes.