Pancreatitis y pancreatopatía crónica: evaluación fisiopatogénica, clínica y funcional: (basada en 1.300 casos en más de tres décadas en el Hospital de Clínicas de Bs. As.) / Chronic pancreatitis and chronic pancreatopathy: physiopathogenic, clinical and funcitonal evaluation. experience with 1,300 cases during three decades

Siguiendo a una experiencia de 33 años, de orden clínico y funcional (test de secretina), se intenta, por una parte, precisar los conceptos de pancreatitis crónica (PC) y de pancretopatía crónica (Pt.p.Cr.). Por otra, de consignar los índices de incidencia y de sus peculiaridades clínicas de expresión. El término de PC se propone cuando: "Las alteraciones estructurales del páncreas, con las eventuales modificaciones de los órganos y elementos anatómicos que con él se vinculan, y/o el déficit funcional de su componente exocrino ("pancreón") constituyen la fuente de la expresión clínica que predomina, de manera ostensible, en el complejo sindromático que exhibe el paciente en evaluación". Se estima como no ajustada a la realidad la noción clásica que considera a la PC como una afección de curso progresivo inexorable. Se enfatiza, por el contrario, la noción de que la PC cuando es adecuadamente tratada puede detener su evolución e, incluso, mostrar evidencias clínico-funcionales de su capacidad regenerativa. La denominación de pancreatopatía crónica (Pt.p.Cr.) es propuesta para aquellas condiciones en las que: "Los signos y/o síntomas originados por eventuales alteraciones anátomos-estructurales del páncreas y/o por modificaciones funcionales de su componenete secretorio exocrino se hallan disimuladamente inmersos dentro de un complejo sindromático que tiene génesis extra-pancreonal". De los 1.300 tests de secretina efectuados, 100 fueron dedicados a perfilar la respuesta secretoria exocrina normal. Y ello tanto en el hombre como en la mujer, discriminando, además, en ambos sexos, los resultados obtenidos por encima y por debajo de una edad crítica límite trazada a los 45 años. En 368 casos, la evaluación conjunta clínica-funcional permitió incluir a los pacientes dentro de la categoría de las PC. Dentro de esta entidad nosológica, se hizo el distingo entre la PC calcificante (alcohólica e idiopática), la autoinmune y la obstructiva. Como PC alchólica fueron.

Following a clinical evaluation and an exocrine pancreatic secretion exploration with the secretin test for more than three decades, we have tried to delineate the concepts of chronic pancreatitis (CP) and chronic pancreatopathy (Chr. Ptp). Besides, the rate of incidence of these two clinical entities in the Clinicas Hospital of Bs. As. was analyzed and discussed. The term CP was accepted when: "The anatomo-structural changes of the pancreatic gland and/or the exocrine functional component impairment constitute the patient's dominant clinical expresion". It is considered as erroneous and misleading the assumption that considers CP as a disease of an inexorable progressive course. On the contrary, the authors empehasize their conviction, based on experimental and clinical experiences, that CP is susceptible, when appropriately treated, of stopping its evolution and even disclose clinical-functional imporovements testifyng the inherent regenerative capacity of the gland. In contrast to the above, the denomination of Chr.Ptp. should be restricted when: "The signs and/or symptoms induced by the anatomo-structural changes of the pancretic gland and/or the functional derangement of the exocrine component remain disguised in the clinical syndrome of other diseases". Out of the 1,300 secretin tests performed, 100 were done on healthy controls. This study allowed establishing the normal statistical values of the different parameters. Besides, of showing the differences between men and women, especially above the critical age of 45. This clinical-functional evaluation allowed classifying 368 cases as CP. The folowing sub-groups were delineated: Calcifyiung "CP" (alcoholic, 240 cases and idiopathic, 119 cases); autoimmune CP (n=7) and Obstructive "CP" (n=11). In the Chr.Ptp. entity were classified 171 cases. As it is implied in the definition, this type of chronic inflammation of the pancreatic gland remained immersed in other disease entities.

Early morphological and functional changes in pancreas following necrosectomy for acute severe necrotizing pancreatitis.

INTRODUCTION: Morphological and functional changes in the pancreas after surgical pancreatic necrosectomy have not been studied extensively. AIMS: To study morphological changes in the pancreas, and exocrine and endocrine pancreatic function following pancreatic necrosectomy. METHODS: Eighteen adult patients surviving at least one month after pancreatic necrosectomy for acute necrotizing pancreatitis were followed up. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography was done every six months. Stool fat was estimated at 3-month intervals, and need for and response to enzyme supplements were recorded. Blood sugar was measured every fortnight; in patients with hyperglycemia, need for oral hypoglycemic agents or insulin was recorded. Additional pancreatic imaging was done in some cases. RESULTS: Six weeks after surgery, nine of 18 patients had exocrine insufficiency. Thirteen patients developed endocrine insufficiency, including 5 who also had exocrine insufficiency. At the end of the study, 13 patients had endocrine insufficiency and 2 had exocrine insufficiency. Pancreatic size was subnormal in all patients at the end of six months. Pancreatography in three cases did not reveal any ductal abnormality. CONCLUSIONS: Necrotizing pancreatitis affects pancreatic exocrine or endocrine function in more than half the patients.