Chronic Pancreatitis: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments

Pancreas, is a large gland present near the stomach. There are two important functions performed by pancreas in the digestive system. The first is to secrete important hormones like insulin and glucogen; while the second, is to produce digestive juices that help to break down fats, proteins and carbohydrates in the small intestine. Inflammation of pancreas due to chronic pancreatitis, reduces the production of the digestive juices and also the amount of hormones secreted by the pancreas. There are two types of pancreatitis, acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis.

Causes of Chronic Pancreatitis

Alcohol consumption is the primary cause of chronic pancreatitis, contributing 70% of the total cases of chronic pancreatitis. A prolonged period (i.e. 10 years or more) of alcoholism increases the risk of chronic pancreatitis. There are many other factors that can cause chronic pancreatitis. Those factors are listed below:

• Cystic fibrosis: People suffering form cystic fibrosis may develop chronic pancreatitis.
• Genetic disorder: Mutation of the 'gene 7' is the cause of chronic pancreatitis. This faulty gene can be inherited from parents. Pancreatitis that is caused due to the inheritance of a mutated gene, is called as hereditary pancreatitis.
• Cancer/ Gallstones: The pancreatic duct can become narrow because of these diseases and this can be a cause of chronic pancreatitis.
• Anatomical problem: A person can be born with structural problems of the pancreas that may be a cause of chronic pancreatitis.
• Hyperparathyroidism: Over-secretion of hormones by the parathyroid gland leads to elevation in calcium levels, as a result of which the pancreas secrete more calcium and this is seen to be a cause chronic pancreatitis. The exact relation between elevated calcium and development of chronic pancreatitis is not known yet.
• Injury: Injury or trauma to the pancreatic area may cause inflammation which in turn may result in chronic pancreatitis.

Symptoms of Chronic Pancreatitis

Abdominal pain is the chief symptom of chronic pancreatitis. The patient suffers from severe pain in the upper part of abdomen. This pain may increase after eating or drinking anything. The pain may be continuous and may last from a few hours to 1-4 days. The list of other symptoms observed is given below,

• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Jaundice
• Diabetes
• Fatty stools
• Nausea
• Digestion Problem

Diagnosis of Chronic Pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis is seen more commonly, in men between age 30-40. On observation of any of the symptoms of chronic pancreatitis, the physician will suggest a gastroenterologist (specialist of digestive system disorders), for its diagnosis. The blood and faeces samples are taken and sent to laboratory for tests. These tests, however, are not enough to confirm the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis and more tests are required. Most of these tests are imaging tests that give an image of the pancreas and help to determine if there is any inflammation of the pancreas. These tests that confirm the diagnosis are given below:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): It takes multiple X-rays and provides a detailed cross sectional image of the abdominal area around the pancreas.

Ultrasonography: An image of the pancreas is created on the monitor by passing sound waves through the patient's body. This image is called as sonogram.

ERCP (Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography): X-rays of the pancreatic ducts are taken by inserting an endoscope (flexible tube with camera at the inserted end) through patients body.

EUS (Endoscopic Ultrasound): It is a test that combines the techniques used in ultrasound and ERCP. The sound waves are directed towards pancreas from the endoscope.

Biopsy: Sample of the pancreatic tissue is taken and sent to laboratory for further testing.

Treatment for Chronic Pancreatitis

The treatment for chronic pancreatitis focuses on reducing the abdominal pain and solving the digestive problems. A diet plan that includes low fat, and high calories and proteins, is usually suggested. People who drink alcohol excessively, should completely stop drinking to avoid dire consequences. To reduce the pain of the abdomen, medications like tramadol are recommended. There may have some side effects of this, so any medication should be taken only after consultation with the doctor. Pancreatic supplements are also given to increase the level of enzymes or the digestive juices that are not secreted by pancreas. Even these medications may have side effects and proper prescription of a physician is recommended. Anatomical problem of the pancreatic duct that leads to sever abdominal pain may need a surgery. Treatment for chronic pancreatitis due to gallstones may involve removal of the gallbladder. Patients who develop diabetes due to chronic pancreatitis, need to maintain the insulin level with medications or by injecting insulin.

In United States every year 87,000 cases of chronic pancreatitis are found. Chronic pancreatitis is not a curable disease, but the symptoms can be reduced. The disease may reduce the life expectancy of the patient. So, timely treatment is essential and one should stop drinking alcohol, if alcoholism was the cause of the disease. Not only chronic pancreatitis, but many other diseases can be prevented by eating healthy food and by avoiding alcohol consumption.