Nutrition in Clinical Practice · 2004 · 35 citations · 0 references
MedicineBiochemistryPathologyAnatomic PathologyHistopathologyInflammationInflammatory PathologyInflammatory Tissue InjuryPancreatic DiseasesPancreatic DisordersPancreatic EndocrinologyPancreatic PathologyChronic Inflammatory InjuryEndocrine Gland StructureHistologic ExaminationPancreas AnatomyPancreatic AnatomyPancreatic BiopsyPancreatic HistologyPancreatic Injury
The pancreas is an exocrine and endocrine gland that is required for normal digestion and metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory process of the pancreas that involves peripancreatic tissues and remote organs. Mild AP occurs in 80% of patients requiring hospitalization and severe AP occurs in the other 20%. Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is an inflammatory disorder that causes anatomic changes, including infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells and fibrosis of the pancreas. This review discusses biochemical and histologic features of pancreatic injury in AP and CP and some of the important clinical sequelae associated with these abnormalities.