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Chronic pancreatitis
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In chronic pancreatitis, the pancreas — the gland tucked behind the stomach — is left with two things after an injury or a period of stress: inflammation, meaning the organ is irritated and reacting, and fibrosis, meaning scar tissue replacing what used to be there. And these aren't an episode that passes and is forgotten; they settle in for good. It's the difference between a cut that heals and one that leaves a hard mark on the skin, except that here the mark is inside the gland.
That has consequences for the work the pancreas used to do. It can fall short on one of its jobs and stop doing it well. Diabetes can also show up. The key point is that neither of these arrives on a set schedule: when they appear, and how strongly, varies enormously from one person to the next.
In brief
In chronic pancreatitis, inflammation and fibrosis persist in the pancreas after injury or stress.
The pancreas may no longer perform one of its functions well enough; diabetes can also develop. The timing and extent of both changes vary widely.
Sources (2)
- American College of GastroenterologyACG Clinical Guideline: Chronic PancreatitisPublished
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesAcute and Chronic Pancreatitis
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated