Chronic pancreatitis is a prolonged inflammation of the pancreas which leads to fibrosis, atrophy and ultimately functional loss of the pancreas. This happens due to depleting cells of pancreas. Also due to chronic inflammation there is formation of stones in the pancreatic duct, therefore also known as pancreatic stone disease.
Risk factors
Alcohol intake
Smoking
Recurrent pancreatitis
Hypercalcemia
Hypertriglyceridemia
Genetic
A patient of chronic pancreatitis can have
Digestion problems: fat indigestion >foul smelling, bulky, oily stools known as Steatorrhea. Protein indigestion: bloating
Diabetes: when insulin cells deplete in number. Usually a late phenomenon.
Pain in the upper abdomen usually after food. It radiates to the back and may be associated with vomiting
Sometimes vomiting if there is gastric outlet obstruction
Bleeding
Unwanted weight loss
The disease is usually diagnosed on an imaging modality like CT Scan, an Ultrasound or an MRI which would show atrophy of pancreas with dilated pancreatic duct with calculi in it. The other tests like fecal fat content. Certain invasive tests, are also there but they are not usually required.
The treatment involves Medical Management: with pancreatic enzymes supplementation, PPIs, and insulin for diabetes and pain killers for pain