Changes in characteristics of chronic pancreatitis during the course of disease

Group of 100 patients with proven CP was analysed through the period of 5-20 years. According to duration of pancreatic disease patients were divided in three groups: 2-5 years from the onset of disease (12 patients), 5-8 years from the onset of disease (35 pts) and more than 8 years from the onset of disease (35 pts). At the start of the study all patients have refereed abdominal pain. Chymotripsin activity, BMI, patients' age, occurrence of diabetes and frequency of pain cessation between groups was compared. Significantly higher frequency of diabetics was found in group with longer duration of CP, as expected. Occurrence of pain declined significantly more often in those CP patients with associated diabetes as compared to those without diabetes. Cessation of pain was most prominent in patients with diabetes lasting for more than 8 years. Decline of pain frequency in CP patients despite the progressive pancreatic damage seems to be caused primarily by microvascular changes similar or identical to those occurring in diabetes.