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Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas.Causes include a gallstone impacted in the common bile duct or the pancreatic duct, heavy alcohol use, systemic disease, trauma, elevated calcium levels, hypertriglyceridemia (with triglycerides usually being very elevated, over 1000 mg/dL), certain medications, hereditary causes and, in children, mumps.
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]
Chronic pancreatitis is a long-standing inflammation of the pancreas that alters the organ's normal structure and functions. [1] It can present as episodes of acute inflammation in a previously injured pancreas, or as chronic damage with persistent pain or malabsorption.
Other rarer diseases affecting the pancreas may include pancreatic pseudocysts, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and pancreatic fistulas. [5]: 888–891 Pancreatic disease may present with or without symptoms. When symptoms occur, such as in acute pancreatitis, a person may experience acute-onset, severe mid-abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.
Alcohol misuse is a leading cause of both acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis. [155] [156] Alcoholic pancreatitis can result in severe abdominal pain and may progress to pancreatic cancer. [157] Chronic pancreatitis often results in intestinal malabsorption, and can result in diabetes. [158]
Autoimmune pancreatitis may cause a variety of symptoms and signs, which include pancreatic and biliary (bile duct) manifestations, as well as systemic effects of the disease. Two-thirds of patients present with either painless jaundice due to bile duct obstruction or a "mass" in the head of the pancreas, mimicking carcinoma.
Hemosuccus pancreaticus is a rare cause of hemorrhage in the gastrointestinal tract.It is caused by a bleeding source in the pancreas, pancreatic duct, or structures adjacent to the pancreas, such as the splenic artery, that bleed into the pancreatic duct, which is connected with the bowel at the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine.
Chronic pancreatitis is a known risk factor for cancer of the pancreas. But chronic pancreatitis that is due to alcohol doesn't increase risk as much as other types of chronic pancreatitis. So if there is a link with alcohol and pancreatic cancer risk, it is only very slight." [132]