The Long-term Prospective Follow-up of Pancreatic Function After the First Episode of Acute Alcoholic Pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: Data on the prevalence of pancreatic dysfunction after an episode of acute pancreatitis are conflicting. Our aim was to evaluate the natural course of endocrine and exocrine pancreatic function in the long-term follow-up after the first episode of acute alcoholic pancreatitis (AAP). METHODS: A total of 77 patients who survived their first episode of AAP between January 2001 and February 2005 were prospectively followed up for a maximum of 13 years. During the follow-up, patients were repeatedly interviewed and monitored for recurrences, new diabetes, and chronic pancreatitis. The pancreatic function was evaluated repeatedly during the follow-up. RESULTS: Of the patients, 35% had ≥1 recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) episodes during the follow-up. New pancreatogenic diabetes developed in 19% of the previously nondiabetic patients, but only in patients with RAP (13/26 vs. 0/42; OR=39; 95% CI, 4.6-327.1). In addition, 55% of the patients developed new prediabetes or diabetes, and even this was more frequent in patients with RAP (86% vs. 42%; OR=8.2; 95% CI, 1.2-54.3). Exocrine dysfunction developed in 24% of the patients and was associated with abnormal findings in the endocrine function (P=0.003). Patients with RAP had a higher overall mortality compared with patients without RAP episodes during the follow-up (36% vs. 13%; HR=4.0; 95% CI, 1.4-11.0). CONCLUSIONS: The risk for pancreatic endocrine dysfunction, pancreatogenic diabetes and mortality increases significantly if the patient has recurrent episodes of AAP. The risk of developing pancreatic dysfunction after AAP should be recognized and pancreatic function should be screened routinely during the years after the first episode of AAP.