[Pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis (author's transl)]

The earliest change during chronic pancreatitis seems to be precipitation of proteic material consisting apparently of the normal components of pancreatic juice, as demonstrated by pathology studies. Similar changes could be induced in animal experiments. There seems to be a causal relationship between increased protein concentration in pancreatic juice and protein precipitation. The cause of the disease in most cases is alcoholism combined with a diet rich in fat and proteins, or malnutrition in infants. The mechanism of action was clarified in dogs and rats: An increase of cholinergic stimulation influencing pancreatic secretion directly seems to be involved as well as an indirect stimulation of pancreatic secretion by gastroduodenal hormones.