title: Etiology of chronic calcifying pancreatitis in Brazil: a report of 329 consecutive cases.
abstract: The authors observed 329 consecutive cases of chronic calcifying pancreatitis (CCP) from January 1963 to January 1986. Alcoholism was the etiological agent in 282 cases (86%). In 34 patients (10%) no cause was detectable (idiopathic). Malnutrition was responsible for 10 cases (3%) and chronic familial pancreatitis was diagnosed in 3 cases (0.9%). The mean age at the apparent onset of symptoms was 36.5 +/- 10.5 for the alcoholics, 22.6 +/- 15.4 in the idiopathic cases and 7.3 +/- 3.0 for the nutritional etiology patients. Mean age differences are statistically significant for the 3 groups. Pancreatic calcifications were found in 224 alcohol-induced cases (79%), in 32 idiopathic cases (94%), in 8 patients with malnutrition (80%) and in one patient with familial pancreatitis (33%). All cases of nutritional etiology presented severe protein-caloric deficiencies with edema, and none complained of pain, but 9 had pancreatic insufficiency. Mean daily ethanol intake for the alcohol-addicted patients was 396.6 +/- 286 g (range 80-1664 g) with the onset of alcoholism at 19.1 +/- 6.8 yr old and 20.8 +/- 8.3 (4-44) yr of alcohol indulgence. Pancreatic carcinoma developed in 7 cases. Six cases of chronic pancreatitis were seen among relatives in the group with CCP of alcoholic etiology.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine of the Federal University, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Dani
authors: F J
authors: FJ
authors: Penna
authors: C E
authors: CE
authors: Nogueira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001938:Brazil; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D044469:Racial Groups; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors