digestive disorders
Acute Pancreatitis
Causes of Acute Pancreatitis
Themost common causes(more than 70% of cases) of acute pancreatitis are Gallstones None Alcohol use Gallstones cause about 40% of cases of acute pancreatitis. Gallstones are collections of solid material in the Gallbladder and Biliary Tract . These stones sometimes pass into and block the duct that the gallbladder shares with the pancreas (called the common bile duct). Normally, the pancreas secretes pancreatic fluid through the pancreatic duct into the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). This pancreatic fluid contains digestive enzymes that help digest food. If a gallstone becomes stuck in the sphincter of Oddi (the opening where the pancreatic duct empties into the duodenum), pancreatic fluid stops flowing. Usually, the blockage is temporary and causes limited damage, which is soon repaired. But if the blockage remains, the enzymes collect in the pancreas and begin to digest the cells of the pancreas, causing severe inflammation. Alcohol use causes about 30% of cases of acute pancreatitis. The risk of developing pancreatitis increases with increasing amounts of alcohol (4 to 7 drinks per day in men and 3 or more drinks per day in women). However, less than 10% of people who frequently consume alcohol develop acute pancreatitis, which suggests additional triggers or other factors are needed for pancreatitis to develop. How alcohol causes pancreatitis is not fully understood. One theory is that alcohol is converted into toxic chemicals in the pancreas that cause damage. Another theory is that alcohol may cause the small ductules in the pancreas that drain into the pancreatic duct to clog, eventually causing acute pancreatitis. For some people, acute pancreatitis is hereditary. Gene mutations that predispose people to developing acute pancreatitis have been identified. People who have Cystic Fibrosis (CF) or carry the cystic fibrosis genes have an increased risk of developing acute as well as Many drugs can irritate the pancreas. Usually, the inflammation resolves when the drugs are stopped. Viruses can cause pancreatitis, which is usually short-lived. Gallstones None Alcohol Use None Drugs such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors,azathioprine,furosemide, 6-mercaptopurine,pentamidine, sulfa drugs, and valproate Estrogenuse in women with high levels of lipids in the blood Hypercalcemia (High Level of Calcium in the Blood) (which may be caused by Viruses such as Mumps , High levels of triglycerides in the blood ( Dyslipidemia ) Damage to the pancreas caused by surgery or endoscopy (such as Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography [ERCP]) Damage to the pancreas caused by blunt or penetrating injuries Pancreatic Cancer , or other blockages of the pancreatic duct Hereditary pancreatitis, including a small percentage of people with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) or cystic fibrosis genes Cigarette smoking Kidney Transplantation None Pregnancy (rare) Tropical pancreatitis 