Acute Pancreatitis – Beyond Gallstones and Alcohol

Abstract

Acute pancreatitis is the most common disorder of the pancreas. The incidence of the disease has increased markedly during the past decades. Whilst alcohol abuse and gallstone disease might explain a large proportion of the disease etiology, in one quarter of the patients, the cause remains unknown. Life-style and pharmaceutical drug use are potential risk factors for the disease. This brief review highlights the recent research on the role of these factors in the etiology of acute pancreatitis.