Pancreatic enzymes in the treatment of painful chronic pancreatitis with moderate exocrine insufficiency

Abstract

The term chronic pancreatitis (CP) is used to denote a group of chronic diseases of the pancreas of various etiology, predominantly inflammatory, with several phases of progress, and characterized by focal, segmental or diffuse degenerative and destructive changes in the exocrine component, atrophy of glandular components (pancreocytes) and their replacement by connective (fibrous) tissue; changes in the pancreatic ductal system, formation of cysts and stones, with varying degree of exocrine and endocrine insufficiency. Over the past 30 years, the number of patients with CP doubled. While methods of diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis have improved, there is also an increase in alcohol consumption in some countries and a stronger impact of adverse environmental factors that weaken protective mechanisms of the body. Besides, CP has become much "younger". The average age of patients first diagnosed with CP decreased from 50 to 39 years; the percentage of women increased by 30%. The incidence of alcoholic pancreatitis rose from 40 to 75%.