Chronic pancreatitis is characterized by progressive, irreversible morphologic and functional changes that are most commonly attributed to environmental insults, particularly when there is a genetic or anatomic predisposition. Heavy alcohol use and cigarette smoking are the most common environmental risk factors, but both may be absent. Antecedent episodes of acute pancreatitis occur in about half of patients. Abdominal pain is the most common symptom and requires a tailored approach depending on the anatomic changes in the pancreas. Other clinical manifestations include diabetes mellitus, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, metabolic bone disease, pancreatic cancer, and anatomic complications. Current disease management is centered on risk factor reduction and screening for and treating disease complications. There are no current therapies to delay or retard disease progression, but there are ongoing efforts to more fully understand the natural history of chronic pancreatitis and underlying mechanisms of disease. These studies are expected to provide insights that will transform our approach to disease management and provide increased hope to patients.

中文翻译：

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慢性胰腺炎

慢性胰腺炎的特征是进行性的、不可逆的形态和功能变化，这些变化最常归因于环境损伤，特别是当存在遗传或解剖学倾向时。大量饮酒和吸烟是最常见的环境风险因素，但两者都可能不存在。大约一半的患者发生急性胰腺炎的前期发作。腹痛是最常见的症状，需要根据胰腺的解剖变化采取量身定制的方法。其他临床表现包括糖尿病、胰腺外分泌功能不全、代谢性骨病、胰腺癌和解剖并发症。当前的疾病管理集中在降低风险因素以及筛查和治疗疾病并发症上。目前尚无延缓或延缓疾病进展的疗法，但正在努力更全面地了解慢性胰腺炎的自然史和疾病的潜在机制。这些研究有望提供见解，改变我们的疾病管理方法，并为患者带来更多希望。