gastrointestinal disorders
Chronic Pancreatitis
Key Points
Recurrent attacks of acute pancreatitis may cause chronic persistent inflammation, ductal damage, and ultimately fibrosis, leading to chronic pancreatitis. Patients have episodic abdominal pain, followed later in the disease by manifestations of malabsorption. Diagnosis is based on clinical presentation, imaging studies, and pancreatic function tests. Treatment of chronic pancreatitis principally includes pain control and management of complications, including pancreatic insufficiency. 