Pancreatitis Health Center

Acute pancreatitis is most commonly caused by gallstones, which are small, pebble-like structures made of hardened bile. Gallstones can lead to inflammation in the pancreas as they pass through the common bile duct. Another common cause of acute pancreatitis is chronic, heavy alcohol abuse. Acute pancreatitis can happen within hours or as long as two days after drinking alcohol.

Other causes of acute pancreatitis include abdominal trauma, reactions to certain medications, infections, tumors and genetic abnormalities of the pancreas.

Like acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis happens when digestive enzymes attack the pancreas and nearby tissues, leading to episodes of pain. This condition usually affects people who are between 30 and 40 years old.

Chronic pancreatitis is most commonly caused by many years of alcohol abuse. Just one acute attack that damages the pancreatic duct can trigger this chronic type of pancreatitis. This damaged duct causes the pancreas to become inflamed.

Other causes of chronic pancreatitis include hereditary disorders of the pancreas, cystic fibrosis, hypercalcemia (high levels of calcium in the blood), hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia (high levels of blood fats), reactions to certain medications, particular autoimmune conditions and some unknown causes which researchers still have yet to fully understand.