Classification of chronic pancreatitis and its form

Chronic pancreatitis is a rather dangerous and long-lasting disease that is accompanied by inflammatory processes of the pancreas, as well as damage to its cells and tissues. This article will describe the classification of chronic pancreatitis, as well as the main features of this disease.

What is this pathology?

Chronic pancreatitis most often occurs in women in the elderly, and less often in middle age. The main cause of this pathology development is malnutrition of a person.

Most often, problems with the pancreas arise precisely when a person starts eating an excessively large amount of fried and fatty foods. However, this is not the only extreme. Also, this disease can also attack women who observe an excessively strict diet and deny themselves useful food products. If the human body receives very little fat and protein, the pancreas simply stops functioning properly. And besides, if a person also abuses alcohol, then you can rest assured, chronic pancreatitis will make itself felt.

To date, there is simply a huge number of classifications of the disease, each of which takes into account certain factors. Let us consider each of them in detail.

Marseilles-Roman classification of chronic pancreatitis

This classification is very popular and widely used all over the world. According to it, there are four forms of this disease:

• Obstructive. This form is characterized by the presence of inflammatory processes in the pancreas. In this case, there is a blockage of the main ducts with tumors, adhesions or the course of the inflammatory reactions themselves.

• Calcific pancreatitis is the most common to date. In this case, the tissues are destroyed foci, forming in this case intra-flow stones. Such a variety of this disease is most often found in people who consume a large number of alcoholic beverages.
• The indurative form is extremely rare, since it is characterized by tissue atrophy.
• Education of cysts and pneumocyst.

The main function of the pancreas

In order to understand such an issue as the classification of chronic pancreatitis, it is necessary to understand what function is performed by such an organ as the pancreas. It is worth knowing that he produces various enzymes that take a direct part in the process of digesting food. Enzymes of the pancreas can digest incoming food to such a state that it can be absorbed. For a day, this body is able to produce about one liter of secret, so important for proper digestion of food.

Signs of pathology

In order to better understand the classification of chronic pancreatitis, it is necessary to understand what symptoms this pathology has. And so, on what signs it is necessary to pay attention:

• Pain in the abdomen;
• Improper digestion, which will have such symptoms as abundant fat feces, bloating, significant weight loss, food intolerance and weakness of the whole organism;
• In some cases, on advanced stages of the disease of chronic pancreatitis diabetes can begin to develop;
• In the bile ducts, the pressure rises and gastric dyspepsia syndrome is detected.

As a result of which chronic pancreatitis develops

In fact, this disease can begin to develop for several reasons, as well as their combination. Pay attention to the reasons, which, according to doctors, are most often the cause of this pathology:

• Excessive abuse of alcoholic beverages;
• Use of some medications;
• High content of calcium in the blood;

• Incorrect fat metabolism;
• The development of the disease is also possible and as a result of poor heredity;
• Also, the disease can make itself felt when there is insufficient nutrient intake.

Chronic pancreatitis: ICD classification 10

This classification is modern and the most widely used today. According to this classification, the World Health Organization introduces new diseases every 10 years, it also includes chronic pancreatitis. The modern classification gives each disease its own cipher, so even if the doctor does not understand a foreign language using this cipher, he will be able to understand what kind of disease it is.

So, according to this classification, chronic pancreatitis has two forms:

• Form of alcoholic origin;
• Other forms of this pathology.

Cambridge Classification

The Cambridge classification of chronic pancreatitis is particularly popular with Western medics. It is based on the gradation of changes in the pancreas at different stages of the disease. According to this classification, the following stages of the disease are distinguished:

• The pancreas is in its normal state. In this case, the organ has a normal structure and functions correctly.
• Pathological changes of a chronic nature. In this case, only minor changes in the pancreas are observed.

• Soft pathological changes are characterized by changes in the lateral ducts.
• Pathological changes of a moderate nature. In this case it is already possible to notice changes not only in the lateral ducts, but also in the main ones. Usually at this stage, small cysts and necrotic tissues are formed.
• Significant pathological changes. In this case, in addition to all the changes described above, large cysts and stones can also be formed.

Biliary-dependent pancreatitis

Chronic biliary-dependent pancreatitis is a long-lasting pancreatic disease that develops against the backdrop of pathologies that were present in the body even at the time of the birth of the baby. In fact, such a disease is very common and is characterized by such symptoms:

• Pain in all parts of the abdomen, arising mainly at night. Painful sensations can also extend to the back, shoulder blades or neck. In this very often the painful symptoms of this disease can be confused with bouts of biliary colic.

• Biliary-dependent pancreatitis manifests itself in the form of bloating, nausea, eructations, vomiting or rumbling in the abdomen.
• During the disease, problems with stools can be seen. Many patients complained of diarrhea, which was observed up to five times a day. At the same time, the stool was porridge-like and very poorly washed off the walls of the toilet bowl.
• Increased blood levels of the bile pigment. As a result, the skin, as well as the whites of the eyes, acquire a yellowish tinge.
• Many patients experienced significant weight loss.
• Development of diabetes mellitus.

Such a disease is usually treated conservatively, but in very rare cases surgical intervention may be required.

Recurrent pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis (recurrence classification is used extremely rarely) is characterized by a very frequent occurrence of pain. It can not be said that such pains are very harsh, but with improper treatment, the patient's condition can deteriorate significantly.

However, if at the same time with this pathology the patient also has other diseases of the digestive system, then the pain can be simply intolerant. Usually, the pain syndrome is present from a few hours to several days. In order to eliminate the symptoms of this disease, you need to use methods of conservative treatment, as well as normalize nutrition.

Treatment

Chronic pancreatitis, the etiology of which can be diverse, it is very important to start treatment on time, otherwise this pathology can lead to the formation of other diseases. Usually, the chronic form of the pathology is very difficult to cure by conservative methods, therefore, experts suggest to resort to an operative intervention. Do not make hasty conclusions, visit several doctors, and already on the basis of the general recommendations received, determine the scheme for further treatment.

Do not forget that the treatment process should be aimed at eliminating pain, removing inflammatory processes, as well as removing bile from the body.

Forms of the disease

It is very important to determine what kind of pancreatitis is in each individual case. The form of the disease depends on many factors. Let us consider in more detail what forms scientists give:

• The edema of chronic pancreatitis is very similar to the acute one. In this case, the disease progresses very long, more than six months. Very often, in addition to the pain syndrome, nausea and vomiting are also present.
• The parenchymal form is characterized by a very frequent occurrence of exacerbations. As a rule, such exacerbations occur several times a year. When carrying out ultrasound therapy, as well as other methods of examination, it can be noted that the pancreas is characterized by some changes.
• The indurative form is usually characterized by very strong pain sensations. In addition, the amount of amylase begins to increase in the blood. However, ultrasound does not show that the organ began to increase in size. In some cases, on the contrary, it becomes smaller.
• With a cystic form in the pancreas small cysts begin to form. In this case, the organ itself begins to increase, and its contours become less distinct.
• Psevdotumoroznaya form is usually characterized by the strongest pain syndrome. In this case, the organ significantly increases in size and changes its shape. This can be seen even with the help of ordinary palpation.

Of course, this disease is quite severe, so doctors advise to protect themselves and eat their patients correctly. Chronic pancreatitis can be cured with conservative treatment, but this can only be done if the disease has only an early stage. In the most difficult stages, it is usually impossible to do without surgical intervention.

Eat right, go in for sports, have a rest more and in time address to the doctor, and then to you any disease will not be terrible. Be healthy and take care.