The Pathogenesis and Therapies of Acute Pancreatitis: A Bibliometric Analysis from 2003 to 2025

Purpose: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disorder with rising global incidence. Substantial progress in elucidating AP pathophysiology has been achieved over the past two decades. This study aims to assess the evolution of AP pathogenesis and therapies through quantitative methodologies. Methods: Basic research articles addressing AP pathogenesis and therapies published between 2003 and 2025 were retrieved from the Web of Science database. Bibliometric visualization was performed with VOSviewer and CiteSpace, and statistical graphics with GraphPad Prism. Results: Among 632 publications, China led in output, while the USA had the highest impact. Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Markus M. Lerch were the most productive institution and author, respectively. Pancreas was the leading journal. Keyword analysis revealed key mechanistic themes including “oxidative stress”, “nf-kappa-b”, and “trypsinogen activation”, alongside emerging research foci such as “gut microbiota” and “autophagy”. Rodents were the primary models, with cerulein as the common inducer. Recent hotspots include acinar cell ferroptosis and pyroptosis, alongside pivotal immune themes of neutrophil extracellular traps, macrophage polarization, and Treg/Th17 balance. Innovative therapies encompassed gut microbiota modulation, nanotherapy, and traditional Chinese medicine. Conclusion: This investigation provides methodological references for establishing AP experimental models, and delineates promising future investigative trajectories.