Chronic Pancreatitis Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
Chronic pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas that does not improve and gets worse over time, causing permanent damage. The pancreas is a digestive organ behind the stomach which has two functions, namely:
- make enzymes that help digest proteins, fats, and carbohydrates before they are absorbed by the intestines
- make the hormone insulin which controls the body and stores sugar (glucose)
Chronic pancreatitis makes it difficult for the body to digest food and make pancreatic hormones. Possible complications are diabetes and pancreatic cancer. This disease usually appears at the age of 30–40 years and is more common in men than women.
Symptoms
Most people with chronic pancreatitis experience upper abdominal pain, although some experience no pain at all. Pain may radiate to the back and get worse with eating or drinking. In some cases, the pain will go away as the disease gets worse.
Other symptoms include:
Weight loss occurs because the body cannot digest food. So that malnutrition often occurs in patients.
Reason
Some things that can cause chronic pancreatitis include:
- Heavy alcohol users
- Autoimmune (the immune system attacks the body itself)
- Genetic mutation due to cystic fibrosis
- Obstruction of the pancreatic duct or bile duct
- Familial pancreatitis (2 or more family members have a history of pancreatitis)
- Smoking
Diagnosis
To determine the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis, the doctor will ask for a history and physical examination. In general, blood tests are not helpful for diagnosing chronic pancreatitis. A stool examination is sometimes also needed. Radiographic examinations such as abdominal ultrasound, X-ray, endoscopy ultrasound, MRI and CT scan are needed to evaluate the structure of the pancreas.
To find out about autoimmune pancreatitis, you can do an IgG4 test from the blood. Sometimes, a small biopsy of pancreatic tissue is needed to differentiate chronic pancreatitis from pancreatic cancer.
Treatment
Treatment of chronic pancreatitis is not to reduce inflammation and repair permanent damage to the pancreas. Treatment to reduce pain and make lifestyle changes.
Patients who do not smoke or drink alcohol experience less pain and live longer than patients who continue after their diagnosis. Low fat, high protein and high-calorie diet is recommended.
Sometimes, surgery is needed for chronic pain that doesn’t get better with pain medications. Some of the surgical options include endoscopic surgery, pancreatic resection (removal of part of the pancreas) or total pancreatectomy (total removal of the pancreas).
Steroid drugs are used when chronic pancreatitis is caused by an autoimmune cause. Pancreatic enzyme supplements may be given to increase the effectiveness of the digestive system. Some of the effects of enzyme supplements are diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.