[A prospective multiyear study of the course of chronic recurrent pancreatitis]

It was established during observation over time (within the period from 10 to 12 years) that the overwhelming majority of patients with chronic cholecystopancreatitis and primary chronic pancreatitis progressed to a different degree to enzyme-secreting pancreatic failure according to the pancreozymine tests. At the same time in 2/5 of all the cases, enzyme-secreting failure turned out substantial by the end of the indicated period. During the years of prospective studies, every tenth patient with chronic pancreatitis developed secondary diabetes mellitus. The degree of pancreatic enzyme secretion and carbohydrate metabolism abnormalities depended on the number of disease exacerbations suffered by the patient. Secondary gastroduodenal ulcers occurred in 27 out of 647 patients observed over time, and all the cases were associated with a considerable reduction of pancreatic bicarbonate secretion (according to the secretin test). Pancreatogenous pleural exudate was recorded in 1.4% of all the cases of chronic pancreatitis. During the observation period, 16 out of the 647 patients died from chronic pancreatitis associated with progressive exocrine pancreatic failure and malabsorption.