What causes pancreatitis?
The major causes of pancreatitis in developed countries include: 1) alcohol, 2) gallstones, 3) medications, 4) hyperlipidemia (elevated triglycerides). Less frequent causes included 1) hypercalcemia (elevated calcium in the blood), 2) genetic mutations, i.e. Cystic fibrosis, 3) infections (mumps, CMV), 4) HIV infection, 5) trauma, 6) pancreas divisum and 7) post ERCP. As far as I know, about a hundred years ago it was discovered that the loss of pancreas caused sugar to appear in urine, like with diabetics. A tried cure for diabetes was to give patients pancreas extracts but it was unsuccessful. Could you please explain why? The extract was insulin. The insulin given orally is broken down by digestive enzymes.
