ChroniC panCreatitis in north india: an enigmatiC disease

Chronic pancreatitis is characterized by irreversible damage to the pancreas that eventually leads to pain and/or exocrine and endocrine insufficiency. It is a major health problem worldwide and is associated with considerable morbidity. Alcohol is the most common cause of chronic pancreatitis worldwide. Still in a large proportion of patients with chronic pancreatitis no etiology can be identified and these are labeled as idiopathic chronic pancreatitis. However, with medical advancement various other factors like genetic mutations, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperparathyroidism, and autoimmunity have been found to be causative for chronic pancreatitis.