Pancreatitis crónica: análisis de factores de progresión de la enfermedad / Chronic pancreatitis: analysis of disease progression factors

BACKGROUND: Alcohol and tobacco are important risk factors for chronic pancreatitis (CP). AIM: To analyze the effect of etiological factors such as tobacco and alcohol and pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) in the progression of CP. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with a diagnosis of CP were recruited and grouped according to variables such as tobacco, alcohol and PERT. They were followed for 18 months. Subsequently, different variables and analytical parameters involved in the progression of the disease were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients diagnosed with CP were included. Of these, 28 patients underwent PERT, 39 were smokers and 33 were alcohol users. Compared with patients without PERT, those with PERT had a higher proportion of diabetes (64 and 32%, respectively), had a higher need for endoscopic treatment (25 and 0%, respectively) and a normal body mass index (71 and 27.3%, respectively. The smokers had higher calcium levels and increased lymphocytosis and leukocytosis. The alcohol consumption group had a higher mean age (p = 0.04) CONCLUSIONS: PERT may improve the nutritional status but does not reduce the need for endoscopic or surgical treatment. Smoking and alcohol consumption favored the progression of CP. Also, smoking induced a pro-inflammatory state.

Pancreatitis recurrente en pediatría: serie de casos / Recurrent pancreatitis in children: Case series

La pancreatitis recurrente (PR) ocurre en el 15-36 % de las pancreatitis agudas, en la edad pediátrica. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal, para determinar la etiología y la evolución en menores de 18 años con diagnóstico de PR entre 2008-2016 en el Hospital Garrahan. Se incluyeron 10 pacientes, el 90 % de sexo femenino. La mediana de edad fue de 11 años. La mediana del número de episodios fue de nueve. La ecografía abdominal y/o la colangioresonancia iniciales mostraron hallazgos patológicos en cuatro pacientes. De los seis pacientes con estudios iniciales normales, tres desarrollaron signos de pancreatitis crónica (PC), uno con estenosis del Wirsung sugestiva de pancreatitis autoinmune. El 40 % de los pacientes tuvo diagnóstico etiológico. En el seguimiento, tres pacientes con pancreatitis idiopática desarrollaron PC. Los factores genéticos podrían jugar un papel en los casos considerados idiopáticos.

Recurrent pancreatitis (RP) occurs in children between 15-35 % of the cases. To determine the etiology and outcome of RP in children a descriptive, cross-sectional cohort study was conducted in children under 18 years of age with RP seen at Hospital Garrahan between 2008-2016. Of 10 patients with RP, 90 % were girls. Median age of the diagnoses of RP was 11. Median number of episodes was 9. Initial abdominal ultrasonography and/or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography were abnormal in four patients. Of six patients with normal studies at onset, three developed signs of chronic pancreatitis (CP) and one stenosis of the duct of Wirsung suggestive of autoimmune pancreatitis. In 40 % of our patients, the etiology was determined. On follow-up, three patients with idiopathic pancreatitis developed CP. Genetic factors may play a role in patients considered to have idiopathic pancreatitis.

Una actualización de pancreatitis crónica: artículo de revisión / Update on chronic pancreatitis: review article

La pancreatitis crónica es una enfermedad fibro-inflamatoria progresiva del páncreas caracterizada por la fibrosis irreversible de la glándula con el eventual fallo de las funciones exocrinas y endocrinas. Las características distintivas de la enfermedad son el dolor abdominal, la malabsorción, la desnutrición, la diabetes mellitus y las calcificaciones pancreáticas. En muchos pacientes el origen de esta enfermedad se debe a una compleja mezcla de factores ambientales (por ejemplo, alcohol, cigarrillos y productos químicos en el trabajo), factores genéticos y en algunos casos origen hereditario o autoinmune. El manejo incluye enfoques médico, endoscópico y quirúrgico con la necesidad de la interacción entre diversas especialidades para dar un enfoque multidisciplinario coordinado. Esta revisión ofrece una visión general de los estudios recientes resumiendo la epidemiología, etiología, fisiopatología, manifestaciones clínicas, diagnóstico y tratamiento de la enfermedad.

Chronic pancreatitis is a progressive fibro-inflammatory disease of the pancreas characterized by irreversible fibrosis of the gland with eventual failure of exocrine and endocrine functions and hallmark features of abdominal pain, malabsorption, malnutrition, diabetes mellitus and pancreatic calcifications. In many patients this disease results from a complex mix of environmental (eg, alcohol, cigarettes, and occupational chemicals), genetic factors and a few patients with hereditary or autoimmune disease. The management includes medical, endoscopic and surgical approaches with the need for interaction between various specialties, calling for a concerted multidisciplinary approach. This review provides the reader with a comprehensive overview of the studies summarizing the epidemiology, etiology, physiopatology, clinical manifestation, diagnosis and treatments of the disease.

¿Es la pancreatitis crónica una enfermedad rara en Chile?: ¿Subdiagnóstico, baja prevalencia o ambos? / Chronic pancreatitis: retrospective review of 121 cases

Background: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a rare disease in Chile, without a clear explanation for this low prevalence. Aim: To analyze the characteristics of our patients with pancreatitis. Material and Methods: Retrospective analysis of a database of patients with pancreatitis of a clinical hospital. Morphological proof of diagnosis (calcifications/calculi, alterations of ducts, local complication or histology) was obtained for every patient. History of acute pancreatitis was recorded and exocrine-endocrine function was assessed. Results: We retrieved information of 121 patients with pancreatitis (86 males) in a period of 20 years. The number of cases increased markedly every five years. The calculated incidence and prevalence was 0.8/100,000/year and 6/100,000, respectively. Pancreatic calcifications were initially observed in 93 patients and became evident during the follow-up in another six patients. Severe pain or local complications occurred in 27 patients, requiring surgery in 10 or endoscopic treatment in 15. During the years of follow-up, 55 patients were free of symptoms. Exocrine and endocrine insufficiency was demonstrated and treated in 81 and 67 patients, respectively. Alcoholic etiology was evident in 40% of patients. In 29% no etiology was identified. Mapuche origin was exceptional. Conclusions: Late diagnosis of CP is common, since most of our patients presented with advanced stages. Even though CP is increasingly diagnosed in our hospitals, the number of cases is still far fewer when compared to other countries. Underdiagnosis alone cannot explain this difference and genetic factors might be of importance.

Alterações cutâneas no Kwashiorkor: relato de caso de um homem adulto após cirurgia abdominal / Cutaneous manifestations of kwashiorkor: a case report of an adult man after abdominal surgery

Kwashiorkor é um tipo de desnutrição proteico-energética em que há deficiência dietética de proteína, embora a ingestão de calorias se mantenha adequada. As manifestações cutâneas incluem pele xerótica, com aspecto de esmalte descascado, típica coloração avermelhada a branco-acinzentada dos cabelos, o sinal da bandeira e edema mais evidente, nos membros inferiores e na face, dando aspecto de lua cheia. O presente artigo relata o caso de um paciente adulto, do sexo masculino, previamente submetido à duodenopancreatectomia para tratamento de pancreatite crônica associada ao pseudotumor em cabeça de pâncreas que evoluiu com alterações cutâneas de kwashiorkor após tuberculose pulmonar.

Kwashiorkor is a type of protein-energy malnutrition where diet protein deficit is found, in spite of appropriate caloric intake. Cutaneous manifestations include xerosis, with abnormally dry skin that has a flaking enamel paint aspect, a typical red to gray-white hair color, the "flag sign" and more evident edema in lower limbs and face, giving it a full moon appearance. This article reports a case of a male adult patient who had undergone Whipple surgery for treatment of chronic pancreatitis associated with pseudotumor of the pancreatic head that progressed to cutaneous manifestations of kwashiorkor after pulmonary tuberculosis.

Pancreatitis crónica / Chronic pancreatitis

El diagnóstico de pancreatitis crónica requiere una alta sospecha por parte del médico de atención primaria. Por este motivo debe ser tenida en cuenta como diagnóstico diferencial ante un paciente que presenta dolor abdominal recurrente, consumo elevado de alcohol y síntomas de malabsorción. En la presente revisión narrativa los autores hacen referencia a aspectos generales de esta enfermedad: desde su oscura etiología y fisiopatología, hasta las dificultades actuales en su tratamiento.

Prevalência da pancreatite crônica em pacientes portadores de cirrose hepática alcoólica: estudo histopatológico / Prevalence of chronic pancreatitis in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis: histopathological study

INTRODUÇÃO: O abuso crônico do álcool é importante causa de cirrose hepática e de pancreatite crônica. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a frequência de pancreatite crônica (PC) em pacientes portadores de cirrose hepática alcoólica (CHA) por exame histopatológico. Casuística: Analisaram-se necropsias de 18 homens e sete mulheres portadores de CHA, com idade média e desvio padrão de 47,2 ± 13,8 anos (24 a 83 anos), que consumiam em média 239,6 ± 155,3 g de etanol/dia por um período médio de 16,7 ± 7,2 anos. MÉTODOS: O diagnóstico histopatológico de cirrose hepática baseou-se na fibrose sistematizada com formação de septos delimitando nódulos, associada à inflamação crônica inespecífica. O diagnóstico histológico de PC baseou-se na identificação de exsudato mononuclear (EM) em torno dos ductos e no tecido conjuntivo inter e intralobular, acompanhado de traves de fibrose. A PC foi classificada como leve quando havia discreto EM em região periductal, interlobular ou intralobular acompanhado por finas traves de fibrose; moderada, pelo aumento da intensidade do exsudato e da fibrose, ocasionalmente associado com pequena dilatação dos ductos; a forma grave caracterizou-se pelo EM, densa fibrose, presença de rolhas, dilatação dos ductos, atrofia glandular e, às vezes, calcificação. RESULTADOS: Observou-se PC em 20 pacientes portadores de CHA (80 por cento), que foi leve em 13 (52 por cento), moderada em dois (8 por cento) e grave em cinco (20 por cento). CONCLUSÃO: A pancreatite crônica está frequentemente associada à CHA, sendo histologicamente grave em aproximadamente 1/4 dos casos.

INTRODUCTION: The chronic alcohol abuse is an important cause of liver cirrhosis and chronic pancreatitis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of chronic pancreatitis (CP) in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC) based on histopathological assays. Subjects: Autopsies of 25 patients with ALC, 18 men and seven women, age ranging from 24 to 83 years (mean ± standard deviation: 47.2 ± 13.8) were retrospectively analyzed. They ingested on average 239.6 ± 155.3 g ethanol/day for a mean period of 16.7 ± 7.2 years. METHODS: Liver cirrhosis histopathological diagnosis was based on the findings of systemized fibrosis with formation of septum-delimited nodules and nonspecific chronic inflammation. CP histopathological diagnosis was based on identification of mononuclear cell infiltration (MCI) around the ducts and in the inter- and intra-lobular connective tissue and presence of strands of fibrosis. CP was classified as mild (discrete MCI in the periductal, inter- or intra-lobular areas with thin strands of fibrosis), moderate (increased exudates and fibrosis, occasionally associated with small dilatation of ducts), and severe (evident MCI, dense fibrosis, presence of plugs in the ducts, irregular ductal dilatation, glandular atrophy and, sometimes, calcification). RESULTS: CP was observed in 20 patients (80 percent) with ALC, and was considered mild in 13 (52 percent), moderate in two (8 percent) and severe in five (20 percent) patients. CONCLUSION: CP is often associated with the ALC, and it can be histologically severe in approximately 1/4 of the cases.

Pancreatitis - Etiology and Pathogenesis - / 대한소화기학회지

Pancreatic inflammatory disease can be classified as acute pancreatitis (AP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP) primarily by clinical criteria, with an obvious difference by restoration of normal function in the former or by permanent residual damage in the latter. Gallstones and alcohol are the most common causes of AP. Recent investigations have established that AP from all cause may disrupt normal stimulus-secretion coupling function within the acinar cell. This disruption within the acinar cell leads to an event termed 'co-localization' in which the digestive and lysosomal enzymes merge resulting in a premature activation of proteases. The mechanisms of inflammatory cells which adhere to endothelial cell are determined by a variety of mediators of cytokines released at the site of tissue damage. Cytokines hold the key for both local and systemic inflammatory response in AP. Besides, CP is a debilitating disease characterized by progressive and irreversible destruction of pancreatic tissue leading to exocrine and endocrine insufficiencies. Alcohol intake is the most common cause of CP. Mutations in the cationic trypsinogen gene were identified as causative gene for hereditary pancreatitis. The recognition of frequent cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutations and serine protease inhibitor, Kazal type 1 (SPINK1) mutations in idiopathic CP has hightened the awareness of importance of genetic mutations in CP. Pancreatic stellate cells represent the main cellular source of extracellular matrix in CP and play a key role in pancreatic fibrosis.