The genesis of chronic pancreatitis in the South African black population.
Pancreatitis was previously an unknown disease among black South Africans but has recently emerged as a common clinical problem. This has taken place pari passu with a change in the pattern of alcoholic consumption--Western-type spirits in addition to home-brews. Seventy patients with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis manifesting as clinically acute pancreatitis, and 90 patients with chronic calcific pancreatitis were studied. A high alcohol intake was associated with the pancreatitis in all cases. The prognosis in clinically acute pancreatitis was good, whereas chronic calcific pancreatitis has a high morbidity and mortality rate.
Segal
I
I
Gastro-enterology Unit, Baragwanath Hospital, Johannesburg.
Lerios
M
M
MacPhail
A P
AP
di Bisceglie
A M
AM
Grieve
T P
TP
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D044383:Black People; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology*; D013019:South Africa