[Geographical distribution and pathogenesis of chronic calcifying pancreatitis in tropical zones. Results of a multicenter survey in French-speaking Black Africa].

Chronic calcifying pancreatitis (CCP) is rare in countries with low alcohol consumption except in some tropical countries where malnutrition is widespread (southwest India) and in which CCP occurs in young non-alcoholics. In Black Africa sporadic cases of CCP have been reported in English-speaking countries (Uganda, Nigeria). The purpose of this study was to: a) assess the geographical distribution of CCP in French-speaking Africa; b) estimate the relative proportion of alcoholic CCP (ACCP) and juvenile tropical pancreatitis (JCCP). A total of 92 cases were included in this study, conducted in 16 French-speaking African countries (including Madagascar). There were no cases in countries with partly desert to climates and Moslem populations. Of these 92 cases, 86 corresponded to ACCP due to over consumption of various types of alcoholic beverages depending on the region. All were males with a mean age at diagnosis of 40.7 yrs. The remaining 6 cases were JCCP which were observed in areas of malnutrition with low intakes of animal protein and lipids. In this group the male/female ratio was 1/1 and the mean age at discovery was 15 yrs. Manioc toxicity did not appear to play any role. The "mixed" form, i.e. associating current alcohol consumption with childhood malnutrition, which has been described in young moderate drinkers in Burundi, was a possibility in 4 of the 86 cases of ACCP.