[Conservative therapy of chronic pancreatitis]

Conservative therapy is applied to various extent in all subjects with chronic pancreatitis. It includes removal of the provoking agent (most frequently alcohol abuse and biliary disease), dietary regimen, treatment of pain, maldigestion, and diabetes. Removal of the provoking agent prevents progression of the disease and relieves intensity of the main symptoms, particularly of pain. Diet in remission should include approximately 1g of protein/kg body mass. Fat intake should be encouraged within limits of individual tolerance. With low caloric intake carbohydrates should be enriched up to 65 - 70% of total energy intake. Abdominal pain may be due to a complication or to the underlying disease itself. For this reason one approach cannot be effective in all subjects. Conservative methods represent the first line of pain therapy. They include alcohol withdrawal, analgesics, narcotics and negative trypsin-induced feedback control of pancreatic secretion. Pancreatin medication is the cornerstone of maldigestion therapy. This is indicated with weight loss and/or symptoms associated with steatorrhea or with 15 - 20 g stool fat/day without additional symptoms. The effect may be evaluated by increase of body mass, decrease of loose stools and by markers of the nutritional status. Adequate replacement therapy with pancreatic enzymes influences also elaboration and secretion of some gastrointestinal hormones. The appearance of secondary diabetes makes abstinence from alcohol again mandatory. Food intake should be divided into 5 - 6 daily doses and adequate enzyme replacement should be applied. Peroral antidiabetics may be considered at the early stage, but many of these patients ultimately require insulin therapy. Its dosage should be adjusted to glucose urinary losses rather than to adhere to tight normoglycemia because of the increased risk of hypoglycemia. The therapeutic options in chronic pancreatitis may stabilize the disease and prevent its progression. The patients may be at the best asymptomatic, but not cured.