The etiology and endoscopic management of acute recurrent pancreatitis

Abstract

Objective To investigate the etiology and the efficacy of endoscopic management of acute recurrent pancreatitis. Methods Patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) who were admitted in Changhai Hospital from January 2002 to December 2008 were included in the study population. The medical records were reviewed; the ERCP procedures and other treatment options and complications were documented. After the follow-up the patients were divided into two groups: single attack group (SAG) and recurrent attack group (RAG). The etiology and the efficacy of endoscopic management were analyzed. Results 804 patients were included, 512 patients(63.68%) had AP attacked once, 292(36.32%) had AP recurrent attack . The SAG had a mean age of 52 years old; the RAG had a mean age of 44 years old, the age difference between the two groups had statistical significance (P<0.01). In 201 patients with severe AP, 104(20.31%) patients had AP attacked once, 97 (33.22%) had AP recurrently attacked , the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.01). There were 46 cases in SAG complicated with pancreatic pseudocysts, and 44 cases in RAG complicated with pancreatic pseudocysts, the incidence between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Biliary origin, hypertriglyceridemia were risk factors for recurrent AP. 139 patients with recurrent AP underwent ERCP, and 15 patients developed post-ERCP pancreatitis, 1 patient developed post-endoscopic sphincterotormy bleeding. Follow-up of 118 recurrent AP patients showed the overall remission rate of endoscopic treatment was 78.8%. Conclusions The patients in RAG were younger than those in SAG. The incidence of severe AP and pancreatic pseudocyst was higher in RAG. Cholelithiasis and hypertriglyceridemia were high risk factors of recurrent AP. Endoscopic management was an effective treatment for recurrent AP. Key words: Pancreatitis; Recurrence; Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; Treatment effectiveness