Journal article

Publication year: 2001

Pages: 536-539

Journal: Digestive Diseases and Sciences

Volume number: 46

Issue number: 3

ISSN: 0163-2116

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005690930325

Publisher: Springer

Abstract: 
Most authors claim alcohol consumption to be the only relevant reason for chronic pancreatitis. However, gallstones might cause this disease, as they do cause acute pancreatitis. In this study 91 gallstone patients and 94 age-matched controls were investigated concerning exocrine pancreatic function (fecal elastase-l concentrations). Furthermore x-rays of 100 consecutive ERCP patients were evaluated for differences concerning pancreatic duct changes between patients with and without evidence of cholelithiasis. Pathological elastase 1 levels were more frequent in gallstone patients (30,8%) as compared to age-matched controls (19%). Symptoms such as upper abdominal pain, bloating, and fat intolerance were reported more often in gallstone patients. In ERCP of gallstone patients (N = 60), 77% were found to have chronic pancreatitis according to the Cambridge classification, while in nongallstone-patients (N = 32) 47% had chronic pancreatitis. In conclusion, according to these data a pathophysiological connection between gallstones and chronic pancreatitis appears to be probable.

Harvard Citation style: Hardt, P., Bretz, L., Krauss, A., Schnell-Kretschmer, H., Wüsten, O., Nalop, J., et al. (2001) Pathological pancreatic exocrine function and duct morphology in patients with cholelithiasis, Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 46(3), pp. 536-539. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005690930325

APA Citation style: Hardt, P., Bretz, L., Krauss, A., Schnell-Kretschmer, H., Wüsten, O., Nalop, J., Zekorn, T., & Klör, H. (2001). Pathological pancreatic exocrine function and duct morphology in patients with cholelithiasis. Digestive Diseases and Sciences. 46(3), 536-539. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005690930325