Pancreatitis: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:06, 27 April 2004

Revision as of 15:49, 27 April 2004

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===Causes===

*[[Gallstone]]s;

*Gallstones

*[[Alcoholism|Alcohol]];

*[[MumpsTrauma]];

*[[HypercalcaemiaSteroid]] use;

*[[Mumps]];

*Idiopathic (unknown)

*[[FatAutoimmune necrosisdisease]];

*[[Scorpion]] venom;

*[[Hypercalcaemia]];

*[[Hypertriglyceridemia]];

*[[Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography|ERCP]] (a form of [[endoscopy]]);

*[[Medication|Drugs]]

*[[Peptic ulcer|Duodenal ulcer]];

*[[Fat necrosis]];

*[[Pregnancy]];

*Idiopathic (or unknown).

The most common causes of pancreatitis, accounting for more than 85% of all cases of pancreatitis in Western countries are chronic [[alcoholism]] and [[gallstone]]s. Other causes include [[trauma]] (as from a steering wheel in an automobile accident), [[infection]] (the [[mumps]] virus being the most common), [[drugs]] (the [[diuretic]]s [[Lasixfurosemide]] and [[thiazide]]s, and some [[antiretroviral]]s are common causes, as well as [[azathioprine]] and [[morphine]]), and [[cancer]].

Gallstones that travel down the common [[bile duct]] and which subsequently get stuck in the [[Ampulla of Vater]] can cause obstruction in the outflow of pancreatic juices from the pancreas into the [[duodenum]]. The backflow of these digestive juices causes [[chemical lysis|lysis]] (dissolving) of pancreatic cells and subsequent pancreatitis.

A common mnemonic for the causes of pancreatitis is: "GET SMASHED", an acronym for '''G'''allstones, '''E'''thanol ([[ethanol|alcohol]]), '''T'''rauma, '''S'''teroids, '''M'''umps, '''A'''utoimmune, '''S'''corpion venom, '''H'''yper- (calcemia and triglyceridemia), '''E'''RCP and '''D'''rugs.

===Pathogenesis===