Alcoholic pancreatitis: pathogenesis, incidence and treatment with special reference to the associated pain.
Alcoholic pancreatitis continues to stir up controversy. One of the most debated points is whether from onset it is a chronic disease or whether it progresses to a chronic form after repeated episodes of acute pancreatitis. Histological studies on patients with alcoholic pancreatitis have shown that the disease is chronic from onset and that alcoholic acute pancreatitis occurs in a pancreas already damaged by chronic lesions. Genetic factors may also play a role in the pathogenesis of alcoholic disease. The incidence of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis seems to have decreased in the last twenty years. Finally, recent therapeutic studies which have shown medical or surgical approaches capable of reducing the pain episodes in chronic pancreatitis patients will be described.
Pezzilli
Raffaele
R
Department of Digestive Diseases and Internal Medicine, Sant' Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy. raffaele.pezzilli@aosp.bo.it
Morselli-Labate
Antonio M
AM
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants; D018450:Disease Progression; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019512:Pancreatitis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D000975:Antioxidants