Pancreatitis Causes

Alcohol abuse and gallstones are the two main causes of pancreatitis, accounting for 80%-90% of all cases.

Pancreatitis from alcohol use usually occurs in patients who have been long-term alcohol drinkers for at least five to seven years. Most cases of chronic pancreatitis are due to alcohol abuse. Pancreatitis is often already chronic by the first time the person seeks medical attention (usually for severe pain).

Gallstones form from a buildup of material within the gallbladder, another organ in the abdomen (please see previous illustration). A gallstone can block the pancreatic duct, trapping digestive juices inside the pancreas. Pancreatitis due to gallstones tends to occur most often in women older than 50 years of age.

The remaining 10%-20% of cases of pancreatitis have various causes, including the following:

• medications,
  
  
• exposure to certain chemicals,
  
  
• injury (trauma), as might happen in a car accident or bad fall leading to abdominal trauma,
  
  
• hereditary disease,
  
  
• surgery and certain medical procedures,
  
  
• infections such as mumps (not common),
  
  
• abnormalities of the pancreas or intestine, or
  
  
• high fat levels in the blood.

In about 15% of cases of acute pancreatitis and 40% of cases of chronic pancreatitis, the cause is never known.

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Pancreatitis - Describe Your Experience

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The symptoms of pancreatitis can vary greatly from patient to patient. What were your symptoms at the onset of your disease?

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