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.

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.

Quiste de colédoco gigante / Giant choledochal cyst

La dilatación quística del colédoco es una entidad rara. Tiene mayor incidencia en los países orientales que en los occidentales y predomina en el sexo femenino. Se diagnostica habitualmente en la infancia y se han postulado varias hipótesis para su origen entre las que se destacan las anomalías en la unión biliopancreática. Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 19 años de edad con un quiste de colédoco tipo IV de Todani con varios años de evolución. Finalmente recibió, una derivación como tratamiento definitivo; la evolución fue inmediata y satisfactoria(AU)

Choledochal cysts are rare and has higher incidence rate in the Eastern countries than in the Western nations. It is predominant in females. It is regularly diagnosed in the childhood and several hypotheses have been formulated about their origin, being one of them the biliopancreatic junction anomalies. This is the case of a 19 years-old patient with a Todani´s type IV choledochal cyst with several years of progression. He was finally performed a shunt as definitive treatment and his recovery was immediate and satisfactory(AU)

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.

Curso Terapêutica em Gastroenterologia: aula 8: Pancreatite crônica / Course Therapeutics in Gastroenterologia: class 8: Chronic pancreatitis

A pancreatite crônica (PC) é um processo inflamatório crônico do pâncreas, no qual há destruição irreversível do tecido pancreático endócrino e exócrino. A principal forma é a PC calcificante, causada na imensa maioria dos pacientes pelo alcoolismo. A terapêutica visa então abstinência alcoólica, controle da dor abdominal e das insuficiências endócrina (diabetes) e exócrina (esteatorréia). O médico deve estar atento também para possíveis complicações, a exemplo do pseudocisto pancreático.