Acute pancreatitis Acute pancreatitis Lancet. 2008 Jan 12;371(9607):143-52. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60107-5. Authors Jean-Louis Frossard 1 , Michael L Steer, Catherine M Pastor Affiliation 1 Division de Gastroentérologie, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland. jean-louis.frossard@hcuge.ch PMID: 18191686 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60107-5 Abstract Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas. Acute abdominal pain is the most common symptom, and increased concentrations of serum amylase and lipase confirm the diagnosis. Pancreatic injury is mild in 80% of patients, who recover without complications. The remaining patients have a severe disease with local and systemic complications. Gallstone migration into the common bile duct and alcohol abuse are the most frequent causes of pancreatitis in adults. About 15-25% of pancreatitis episodes are of unknown origin. Treatment of mild disease is supportive, but severe episodes need management by a multidisciplinary team including gastroenterologists, interventional radiologists, intensivists, and surgeons. Improved understanding of pathophysiology and better assessments of disease severity should ameliorate the management and outcome of this complex disease. Publication types Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review MeSH terms Acute Disease Amylases / blood* Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use Birnaviridae Infections / classification Birnaviridae Infections / metabolism Birnaviridae Infections / physiopathology* Cholecystectomy Gallstones / complications Gallstones / drug therapy Humans Incidence Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus / pathogenicity* Lipase / blood* Pancreatitis* / diagnosis Pancreatitis* / physiopathology Pancreatitis* / therapy Severity of Illness Index Substances Anti-Bacterial Agents Lipase Amylases Grant support R01 DK31396/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States