[Contemporary opinions on the etiology of chronic pancreatitis].

Alcohol consumption is the most important etiological factor of chronic pancreatitis (around 70%). Smoking, ethnic-racial predispositions, diets high and low in fat and high in protein may also contribute to the development of chronic pancreatitis. Non-alcoholic chronic pancreatitis of unknown cause makes up 10% to 30% of patients with chronic pancreatitis. Two subgroups have been reported: juvenile (about 25 years) and senile (up 65 years). Tropical pancreatitis has been observed in children and young men in many African and Asian countries. This disease develops because of fat and protein deficiency or nutritional deficiency in general, also due to cyanogenes present in cassava. Hereditary chronic pancreatitis is a rare disease connected with autosomal transmissions. Dr Whitcomb reported, that hereditary chronic pancreatitis developed because of trypsines mutation. Mutant "hypertrypsin" is not inactivated by enzymes; this way it leads to pancreas autodigestion. Obstructive chronic pancreatitis is caused by longterm pancreatic ducts obstruction. In many rare causes leading to chronic pancreatitis among other are: hypercalcaemia, hyperlipoproteinemia, some drugs and pancreatitis associated with autoimmune disorders. Newest information about etiology and pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis is yielded by recent immunohistochemical research. This research shows increasing irregular improper antigens expression of class I and/or class II MHC in pancreas as well as the role of Transforming Growth Factor Alpha in chronic pancreatitis development. This illness is still a puzzling problem.