title: Chronic pancreatitis and exocrine insufficiency.
abstract: The evaluation, management, and follow-up of patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) can be simple, but it can also be complex, so having a good referral network of subspecialists experienced in this field is essential. Identifying the cause of CP requires a systematic review of the many potential causes when the cause is not obvious. The identification of patients with autoimmune CP is particularly important because treatment with steroids may be effective. Alterations in pain or other symptoms in patients with CP should not be attributed to worsening disease before evaluations for complications including malignancy are done.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University of Chicago, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153, USA. jaffronti@lumc.edu
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Affronti
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D010188:Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000150:complications; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000150:complications; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000150:complications