Acute Pancreatitis Health Channel

	Feature Article Illustrations for this article Click on an image below to enlarge Digestive system Endocrine glands Show all 3 photos Acute pancreatitis Definition Acute pancreatitis is swelling (inflammation) of the pancreas. The pancreas is a gland located behind the stomach. It releases digestive enzymes and the hormones insulin and glucagon. Causes, incidence, and risk factors The main causes of acute pancreatitis in adults are: Alcohol use Gallbladder (biliary) disease Gallstones Other causes include: Certain medications (especially estrogens, corticosteroids, thiazide diuretics, and azathioprine) Common bile duct surgical procedures Surgery to the pancreas Traumatic injury Viral infection (mumps, coxsackie B, mycoplasma pneumonia, and campylobacter) Acute pancreatitis may also be caused by: An abnormal structure of the pancreas Complications of cystic fibrosis Genetic factors (hereditary pancreatitis) High lipid levels in the blood (hypertriglyceridemia) What exactly causes pancreatitis is not well known. It is thought that enzymes the pancreas normally releases in an inactive form become activated inside the pancreas and start to digest the pancreatic tissue. This process is called autodigestion. It causes swelling, bleeding (hemorrhage), and damage to the blood vessels. The disease affects men more often than women. Alcohol abuse is an important risk factor. In children, this disorder may be associated with: Abdominal trauma Cystic fibrosis Hemolytic uremic syndrome Kawasaki disease Mumps Reye syndrome Some medications Various viral illnesses Symptoms Abdominal pain that is greatest in the upper abdomen (upper left quadrant or upper middle of the abdomen) Is persistent or chronic May be worse lying flat on the back May spread (radiate) to the back or below the left shoulder blade May be worse after eating or drinking (occurs within minutes following meals), especially foods with a high fat content May be worse after drinking alcohol Anxiety Fever Mild jaundice Nausea and vomiting Sweating Other symptoms that may occur with this disease: Indigestion Clay-colored stools Gaseous abdominal fullness Hiccups Skin rash or lesion Swollen abdomen Signs and tests An examination may show: Fever Low blood pressure Rapid heart rate Rapid breathing (respiratory) rate Tests that show release of pancreatic enzymes: Elevated serum amylase Elevated serum lipase Elevated urine amylase Test that show inflammation of the pancreas: Abdominal CT scan Abdominal MRI Abdomina ... Continue reading this article

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Abdominal pain (6 images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Abdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly. Reviewer: Jacob L. Heller, M.D., M.H.A., F.A.C.E.P., Section of Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 04/25/2008

Abdomen - swollen (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A swollen abdomen is when your belly area is bigger than usual. See also: Abdominal girth Reviewer: Linda Vorvick, MD, Family Physician, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 11/16/2008

Amylase - blood (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Amylase is an enzyme that helps digest carbohydrates. It is produced mainly in the pancreas and the glands that make saliva. When the pancreas is diseased or inflamed, amylase releases into the blood. A test can be done to measure the level of this enzyme in your blood. Amylase may also be measured with a urine test. See amylase - urine. Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 01/28/2009

Abdominal CT scan (13 images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
An abdominal CT scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the belly area. CT stands for computed tomography. See also: CT scan Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 02/23/2009

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