General information
There are two different types of pancreatic inflammation: These diseases are often triggered by long-term consumption of alcohol and/or nicotine, but pancreatitis is also often caused by hereditary factors. – the acute and
- Chronic pancreatitis (acute and chronic pancreatitis). The acute form of pancreatitis initially manifests itself in the appearance of sudden severe pain throughout the upper abdomen.
In many cases these pains radiate belt-like into the back (especially in the direction of the thoracic spine) and increase enormously under pressure. When the knees are tightened to the body, the perceived pain usually decreases. In addition, many patients report severe nausea with vomiting and high fever.
During an acute episode, intestinal activity comes to an almost complete standstill; in this context, one speaks of paralysis of intestinal activity. Fatty stools may occur. Since an inflammation of the pancreas can also lead to a narrowing of the bile ducts, some patients suffer from a so-called icterus (craving for money; yellowing of the skin).
The so-called portal vein system, i.e. the outflow and inflow paths of the liver, can also become narrowed in the course of pancreatitis. As a result, water retention (ascites) often develops in the abdomen, which is accompanied by conspicuous irritant effusions. During severe forms of the disease, shock and poisoning signs can occur, which make it necessary to administer blood preserves and/or infusions.
In many patients, blue-green spots (ecchymoses) also appear in the area around the navel. In technical terminology, the occurrence of these spots is called “Cullen sign”. If these “bruises” occur mainly in the area of the flanks, they are called “Grey- Turner- signs”.
In a blood sample, strongly increased concentrations of the enzymes produced in the pancreas (pancreatic enzymes) can be found. In addition, many ions (magnesium, sodium, potassium and bicarbonate) and the sugar and fat values can be increased. As a sign of an inflammation within the organism, the number of white blood cells (leukocytes) will usually also be increased, resulting in so-called leukocytosis. – Trypsin,
- Amylase and pancreatic lipase (enzyme derailment).
Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis
Even in the course of the chronic form of pancreatitis (chronic pancreatitis), the occurrence of severe pain is considered the main symptom. In this case, however, the pain is not colicky and can last from several hours to days. The localisation of the pain is also here mainly in the upper abdomen and in the area of the flanks.
Similar to the acute form, the pain in chronic pancreatitis radiates belt-shaped into the back, especially in the area of the thoracic spine. Many patients also report severe nausea with vomiting and high fever. Due to the fear of recurring and/or increasing pain, most of those affected refuse to eat or drink, which usually results in severe weight loss.
As the pancreas increasingly loses its ability to function in the course of chronic inflammation, fewer and fewer of the pancreatic enzymes that are important for normal digestive processes are released into the small intestine. This often results in a lack of digestive and nutrient absorption capacity and leads to fat being deposited in the stool (fatty stool). As this increased concentration of fat molecules in the intestinal lumen triggers the influx of water from the intestinal cells, many patients complain of severe diarrhoea and flatulence.
It must also be remembered that the pancreas is also responsible for the production of insulin and glucagon in addition to the digestive enzymes already mentioned. Insulin in turn is essential for the absorption and utilization of sugar in the organism. Chronic pancreatitis can therefore always be accompanied by a reduced production of insulin and thus trigger a form of diabetes based on insulin deficiency (secondary diabetes).
