Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 21, 2025

Longitudinal In Vivo Imaging and Quantification of Human Pancreatic Islet Grafting and Contributing Host Cells in the Anterior Eye Chamber
Published on: June 11, 2020
Cohort profile: the Swedish Pancreatitis Cohort (SwePan)
Daniel Selin1,2, Bei Yang2, Mats Lindblad1
1Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Purpose:
The Swedish Pancreatitis Cohort (SwePan) was designed to study long-term outcomes following an episode of acute pancreatitis. It can also be used to study various risk factors for developing acute pancreatitis.
Participants:
The SwePan is a register-based nationwide matched cohort. It includes all Swedish cases of acute pancreatitis during 1990-2019. It contains 95 632 individuals with acute pancreatitis and 952 783 pancreatitis-free individuals matched on sex, age and municipality of residence. Follow-up was censored at death, emigration or end of study (31 December 2019). The dataset includes comprehensive information based on several registries, and includes diagnoses, prescribed medications and socioeconomic factors both prior to inclusion and during follow-up.
Findings To Date:
During the study period, the number of cases of acute pancreatitis in Sweden has more than doubled from 1977 cases in 1990 to 4264 cases in 2019. The median age of first episode of acute pancreatitis has increased from 58 years (IQR 44-73 years) in 1990 to 64 years (IQR 49-76 years) in 2019. Cases with acute pancreatitis were generally less healthy compared with the pancreatitis-free individuals (Charlson Comorbidity Index of 0 in 59.2% and 71.4%, respectively).
Future Plans:
SwePan will be used to determine the incidence of acute pancreatitis in Sweden over time and assess long-term all-cause and cause-specific mortality after an episode of acute pancreatitis. Some examples of additional planned studies are (1) assessment of long-term risk of diabetes and (2) risk of malignancy in adjacent organs following acute pancreatitis and (3) assessment of risk factors for development of acute pancreatitis including various drugs.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Pancreatitis II: Collaborative Care
Assessment:
Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
Acute Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Acute pancreatitis is characterized by rapid inflammation of the pancreas, often caused by factors like gallstone blockage or excessive alcohol consumption. Chronic pancreatitis, on the other hand, is a slow, progressive inflammation that may result from long-term alcohol abuse, obstructions in the pancreatic duct, or genetic factors.
The causes of acute pancreatitis include:
Acute Pancreatitis II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
Pancreas
The broad head of the pancreas lies within the loop formed by the duodenum, while its slender body reaches towards the spleen. The tail of the pancreas is short...
Pancreatic Juice and Secretion
When acidic chyme from the stomach enters the duodenum, it triggers the release of secretin, a hormone that prompts pancreatic juice secretion. After a fatty meal, cholecystokinin, another hormone, stimulates gallbladder contraction and enhances enzyme-rich...

