What Is It?

Acute pancreatitis is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas, the large gland located behind the stomach and next to the gallbladder. The disease affects approximately 50,000 to 80,000 people in the United States each year, and is a common reason for people to be admitted to the hospital.

The main function of the pancreas is to produce digestive enzymes and hormones, such as insulin and glucagon, which regulate blood sugar levels. In an attack of pancreatitis, enzymes that normally are released into the digestive tract begin to damage the pancreas itself. The gland becomes swollen and inflamed, and even more enzymes are released into the surrounding tissues and bloodstream. Digestion slows down and becomes painful, and other body functions can be affected. The pancreas can become permanently damaged and scarred if attacks are severe, prolonged or frequent.

It is not known exactly why the enzymes start to damage to the organ that produced them, but there are several factors known to trigger attacks of acute pancreatitis. One of the most common causes is gallstones. The pancreatic duct, which delivers digestive enzymes from the pancreas to the small intestine, merges with the common bile duct, which is attached to the gallbladder and liver. If gallstones escape from the gallbladder and travel down the common bile duct, they can become lodged at the place where the pancreatic duct enters the intestine. When the pancreatic duct becomes blocked, enzymes can't flow properly and can back up into the pancreas. This causes the pancreas to become inflamed.

The other leading cause of pancreatitis is heavy alcohol use. Most people who drink alcohol never develop pancreatitis, but certain people will develop pancreatitis after drinking large amounts of alcohol, either over a period of time or in a single binge. It is not known why alcohol is particularly toxic to the pancreas, or why pancreatitis develops in only about 10% of heavy drinkers.

Other factors that sometimes can cause pancreatitis include: