Acute pancreatitis is primarily caused by two main factors:
- Gallstones: These small stones form in the gallbladder and can sometimes block the opening of the pancreas, leading to inflammation.
- Heavy alcohol consumption: Alcohol and its breakdown products can directly damage pancreatic tissue and may trigger the pancreas to activate its digestive enzymes prematurely, causing inflammation.
Other causes of acute pancreatitis include:
- Certain medications (such as immunosuppressants, estrogens, and some diuretics)
- High levels of fats in the blood (hypertriglyceridemia)
- Severe infections (viral or bacterial)
- Injury or trauma to the abdomen
- Elevated calcium levels in the blood (hypercalcemia)
- Structural abnormalities in the pancreatic or bile ducts
- Autoimmune reactions against the pancreas
- In some cases, the cause remains unknown (idiopathic acute pancreatitis)
Severe acute pancreatitis can cause life-threatening complications affecting other organs, and early treatment is critical. In summary, gallstones and heavy alcohol use account for the majority of acute pancreatitis cases, with other causes and unknown reasons making up the rest. This aligns with how pancreatic enzymes become abnormally activated within the pancreas, leading to inflammation and damage. This information is supported by multiple authoritative sources including medical institutions and research summaries.
