title: Effect of alcohol and smoking on pancreatic lithogenesis in the course of chronic pancreatitis.
abstract: The aim of the study was to establish whether correlations were discernible between calcification, smoking, and other variables--including alcohol intake--in chronic pancreatitis. A total of 637 patients with chronic pancreatitis diagnosed over the period of 1973-1989 were reviewed. Only patients who had had one or more instrumental tests (ultrasonography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, computed tomography, plain film of the abdomen) every 3 years were included in the study. Onset of calcification was taken as the end point of the follow-up. No statistically significant correlation was found between alcohol intake and calcification. As regards smoking habits, patients were divided into two groups: nonsmokers and medium-to-heavy smokers (> or = 10 cigarettes/day). Of 637 patients, only 570 fulfilled our criteria. Three hundred seventy-six patients (66%) developed calcifications, whereas 64 (10%) already presented calcifications at the time of diagnosis. Smoking correlated with formation of calcifications (p < 0.004). The mean time to onset of calcification in smokers was 8 years as against 12 years in nonsmokers. The relative risk of calcification in smokers versus nonsmokers was 1.21 (95% confidence limits: 1.10-1.32). By the end of follow-up (17 years), 277 smokers (69%) with chronic pancreatitis had developed calcifications compared with only 93 nonsmokers (55%). The results show that, in this sample of chronic pancreatitis sufferers, smokers present a significantly increased risk of developing calcifications.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Clinica Medica, Cattedra di Gastroenterologia, University of Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cavallini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Talamini
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vaona
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bovo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filippini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rigo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Angelini
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vantini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riela
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frulloni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*