Chronic Pancreatitis
Definition Chronic pancreatitis is a progressive inflammatory disease of the pancreas that leads to fibrosis, calcification, and irreversible damage to the pancreatic tissue.
Epidemiology Chronic pancreatitis is a rare disease, but its incidence is increasing due to various factors such as excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and genetic predisposition.
Risk Factors
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Smoking
- Genetic predisposition
- Pancreatic ductal obstruction
- Pancreatitis
- Pancreatic trauma
Pathophysiology
- Recurrent Inflammation: Inflammation of the pancreatic tissue due to various causes such as alcohol consumption, smoking, and genetic predisposition.
- Fibrosis: Scarring of the pancreatic tissue due to recurrent inflammation.
- Loss of Function: Irreversible damage to the pancreatic tissue, leading to loss of pancreatic function.
Clinical Features
- Recurrent Pain: Pain in the upper abdomen, radiating to the back.
- Malabsorption: Malabsorption of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates due to loss of pancreatic enzymes.
- Diabetes: Development of diabetes mellitus due to loss of pancreatic beta cells.
Laboratory Investigations
- Amylase: Elevated levels in the blood and urine.
- Lipase: Elevated levels in the blood.
- Fecal Elastase: Decreased levels in the stool.
- Blood Glucose: Elevated levels due to diabetes.
Imaging
- USG (Ultrasound): To visualize the pancreas and bile ducts.
- CT (Computed Tomography): To visualize the pancreas and bile ducts in detail.
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): To visualize the pancreas and bile ducts in detail.
- MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography): To visualize the bile and pancreatic ducts.
Role of EUS and ERCP
- EUS (Endoscopic Ultrasonography): To visualize the pancreas and bile ducts in detail.
- ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography): To visualize the bile and pancreatic ducts and to perform interventions such as stenting.
Endoscopic and Surgical Interventions
- Pancreatic Duct Stenting: To relieve obstruction in the pancreatic duct.
Complications
- Pseudocyst: Collection of pancreatic juice in the peritoneal cavity.
- Biliary Obstruction: Obstruction of the bile ducts.
- Pancreatic Cancer: Development of cancer in the pancreas.
Homoeopathic Therapeutic Medicines
- Calcarea phosphorica: For pancreatic calcification.
- Calcarea carbonica: For pancreatic inflammation.
- Natrum muriaticum: For pancreatic fibrosis.
- Arsenicum album: For pancreatic pain.
- Lachesis: For pancreatic inflammation.
- Nux vomica: For pancreatic obstruction.
- Sulfur: For pancreatic infection.
- Carbo vegetabilis: For pancreatic digestion.
- Sanguinaria: For pancreatic inflammation.
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