Chemical therapy for chronic pancreatitis: An assumption or an alternative?

[摘要] Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a chronic diseasecharacterized by progressive and irreversiblechanges to the pancreas.[1] The fundamentalpathophysiological processes in CP involvechronic inflammation, pancreatic fibrosis,acinar atrophy, and blocked ducts. Thedestruction of acinar cells within thelobules by long-term fibrosis ultimatelyleads to the progressive destruction ofpancreatic parenchyma and severe changesin the arrangement and compositionof the islets, which eventually results inexocrine insufficiency (maldigestion andsteatorrhea) and endocrine insufficiency(diabetes).[2] At the same time, fibrosisinvolving the pancreatic ducts leads tofocal duct strictures, and the secondarystasis of secretions and calcification ofprotein plugs contributes to pancreaticcalculi. These calculi obstruct the pancreaticducts and increase pancreatic intraductalpressure, which leads to pain, exacerbatesparenchymal loss, and worsens pancreaticfunction to varying degrees.