Curriculum · Gastroenterology
Chronic pancreatitis
What it is
Repeated episodes of acute pancreatitis may result in chronic pancreatitis.
Causes and risk
The standard etiologic framework is the TIGAR-O classification of chronic pancreatitis etiology: Toxic-metabolic, Idiopathic, Genetic, Autoimmune, Recurrent acute pancreatitis, and Obstructive. Chronic alcohol abuse is the most common cause in industrialized countries.
How it presents
There is a history of pain, with recurrent attacks of pancreatitis and weight loss. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency shows itself as steatorrhea, and diabetes may be present.