Aetiology

Alcohol accounts for up to 80% of all cases of chronic pancreatitis. Other causes include:

• congenital - pancreas divisum; annular pancreas
• hereditary - sometimes with cyclical neutropenia
• cystic fibrosis - in young adults
• hypercalcaemia
• hyperlipidaemia
• obstruction of the pancreatic duct can cause chronic pancreatitis.
  • mechanical or structural changes of the pancreatic - duct sphincter, pseudocysts, post - traumatic ductal strictures, periampullary tumours.
  • gallstones is an uncommon cause.
  • a pancreas divisum is a very rare cause.
• idiopathic - 30 - 40% of patients; tend to cluster in two groups - a younger group (with peak incidence of 15 - 30 years of age) and an older group (peak of 50 - 70 years)
• autoimmune disease, in particular IgG4 disease