Risk factors of Pancreatitis
Gallstone and alcohol are the two major risk factors which can give rise to no less than nearly 90% of cases of acute pancreatitis.
Gallstones Pancreatitis
- Gallstones have been detected in 2/3rd of the cases mostly in high income groups whereas 1/3rd of cases among low income groups. Just reverse is the incidence of alcoholic pancreatitis, which is more (approximately 2/3rd) among low income groups.
Pancreatitis Alcohol
The exact mechanism is also not known how alcohol can induce pancreatitis.
- A direct toxic effect of alcohol on the pancreatic parenchyma has been postulated but could not find a solid base.
- With prolong alcohol intake protein is precipitated in pancreatic juice within the ducts leading to obstruction and increased pressure within the ducts.
- Duodenum inflammation induced by alcohol may produce some degree of duct obstruction.
- Persistent vomiting may cause regurgitation of duodenal contents into the pancreatitis.
- Alcohol stimulates pancreatic secretion by the method of acid-induced secretion release.
- Alcohol increases sphincter tone and increases the secretion.
Obstructive pancreatitis
- It is obvious that some sort of obstruction of the pancreatic duct is required to produce pancreatitis. So duct obstruction is also risk factor of pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis Metabolic
Metabolic factors
- Hyperlipidemia
- Hypercalcaemia
- Haemochromatosis
Pancreatitis Vascular
Vascular factors
- Pancreatitis may be induced by injection of microspheres of various sizes into the arteries in animals. These particles occlude the terminal arterial supply and produce ischemia.
Post-operative pancreatitis
- Following certain intra-abdominal operations pancreatitis may occur. These operations are mainly on the stomach or the biliary (liver and gallbladder) system.
Miscellaneous factors
- A wide variety of seemingly unrelated factors have been associated with the development of pancreatitis.
- Toxins such as methyl alcohol, zinc oxide, cholinesterase inhibitors etc are some of the risk factors.
- A few viral diseases e.g. mumps, echovirus infection, Coxsackie’s virus have been incriminated to cause pancreatitis.
- A few drugs e.g. corticosteroids, phenformim, azathioprin, chlorothiazide, frusemide etc. are the risk factors.
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