[Etiopathogenical and clinical aspects of chronic pancreatitis in San Pablo (Brazil): observations of 80 cases].

The etiopathogeny and clinical aspects of chronic pancreatitis were studied in 80 patients. From the etiological point of view it was observed that 75 out of the 80 patients (93,75%) had had previous intense alcohol ingestion (mean 239.95 +/- 158.34 g of pure ethanol/day) during an average period of 12.5 years. A study of their diet showed that these patients ate significantly more protein than the controls (p less than 0.001). In 2 of the remaining 5 patients, the familiar form of the disease was characterized; in 1 there was a previous history of biliar disease and no etiological factor could be detected. The pathogenic implications of the excessive consumption of alochol associated with a high protein diet, as well as the main clinical characteristics presented by these patients are discussed.