Email this article Clinical course of alcoholic pancreatitis
- Authors: Sadokov VM
- Issue: Vol 78, No 2 (2003)
- Pages: 45-48
- Section: Editorial
- URL: https://journals.rcsi.science/0040-3660/article/view/29313
- ID: 29313
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Abstract
Aim. To study a natural course of alcoholic pancreatitis (AP).
Material and methods. Follow-up clinical, laboratory and radiation examinations were made of 170 patients with alcoholic pancreatitis. Exocrine secretion of the pancreas was assessed by secretin-pancreozymin test. Morphological signs of pancreatitis were studied in patients who had died of pancreatic cancer.
Results. In 24% of patients AP manifested with acute attack. In 76% it was preceded with weak clinical symptoms. AP ran with recurrences and complications (93.5 and 38%, respectively). Most frequently AP was complicated with pseudotumorous pancreatitis, calcinosis and pancreatic pseudocysts. Pancreatic secretion was suppressed in 87% patients though clinically it was evident only in 12% cases. Autopsy cases of pancreatic cancer carried morphological markers of chronic pancreatitis.
Conclusion. Various clinical forms of AP represent stages of its development: early symptoms, recurrences, complications and decompensated failure of the pancreatic function. The presence of pancreatitis in patients with pancreatic cancer causes difficulties in differential diagnosis between these diseases.
Material and methods. Follow-up clinical, laboratory and radiation examinations were made of 170 patients with alcoholic pancreatitis. Exocrine secretion of the pancreas was assessed by secretin-pancreozymin test. Morphological signs of pancreatitis were studied in patients who had died of pancreatic cancer.
Results. In 24% of patients AP manifested with acute attack. In 76% it was preceded with weak clinical symptoms. AP ran with recurrences and complications (93.5 and 38%, respectively). Most frequently AP was complicated with pseudotumorous pancreatitis, calcinosis and pancreatic pseudocysts. Pancreatic secretion was suppressed in 87% patients though clinically it was evident only in 12% cases. Autopsy cases of pancreatic cancer carried morphological markers of chronic pancreatitis.
Conclusion. Various clinical forms of AP represent stages of its development: early symptoms, recurrences, complications and decompensated failure of the pancreatic function. The presence of pancreatitis in patients with pancreatic cancer causes difficulties in differential diagnosis between these diseases.
References
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