Pancreatitis crónica

Abstract

ConceptChronic pancreatitis is a chronic inflammatory process of the pancreas that involves the presence of irreversible fibrosis and loss of acinar cells, ducts and islets of Langerhans. AetiopathogenesisIn our community, the fundamental cause of chronic pancreatitis is alcohol consumption, although its aetiology is multifactorial. Autoimmune pancreatitis has been classified as a part of the spectrum that has come to be known as IgG4-related systemic disease, more so than a variant of chronic pancreatitis. Clinical manifestationsChronic pancreatitis usually manifests clinically as abdominal pain and malabsorption conditions. DiagnosisThe diagnosis is performed with structural tests (of which magnetic resonance imaging and echoendoscopy are the most important) and pancreatic function tests, such as the secretin and faecal elastase tests. A differential diagnosis with pancreatic cancer should be performed. TreatmentTreatment is focused on controlling the symptoms, especially the pain.