[Alcohol and the pancreas].

In the last decenniums the importance of alcohol for the pathology of the pancreas has increased in Middle Europe. The inhibition of the pancreas secretion which was to be observed at an occasional alcohol intake is when a regular ethanol supply is present changed by a hyperfunction with secretion of a pancreatic juice rich in protein with high enzyme and calcium content. This predisposes to the protein precipitation in the small and medium ducts with resulting intrapancreatic obstruction, which on its part gives the impact to the changes of chronic pancreatitis. In 80-90% of the cases the ethanol-induced lesion of the pancreas is manifest under the picture of an acute pancreatitis. Nevertheless, in most cases the first shift of a chronic relapsing pancreatitis is concerned, the peculiarity of which is the frequent occurrence of calcifications. Clinical picture, complications and sequelae are described.