Causes of Pancreas conditions
Pancreas conditions Causes: Book Excerpts
Related information on causes of Pancreas conditions:
As with all medical conditions,
there may be many causal factors.
Further relevant information on causes of Pancreas conditions may be found in:
Causes of Pancreas conditions: Online Medical Books
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Diabetes mellitus:
Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
DM affects an estimated 6% of the population of the United States, about half of whom are undiagnosed. Incidence is greater in females and rises with age. Type 2 accounts for 90% of cases.
In type 1 diabetes, pancreatic beta-cell destruction or a primary defect in beta-cell function results in failure to release insulin and ineffective glucose transport. Type 1 immune-mediated diabetes is caused by cell-mediated destruction of pancreatic beta cells. The rate of beta-cell destruction is usually higher in children than in adults. The idiopathic form of type 1 diabetes has no known cause. Patients with this form have no evidence of autoimmunity and don’t produce insulin.
In type 2 diabetes, beta cells release insulin, but receptors are insulin-resistant and glucose transport is variable and ineffective. Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:
❑ obesity (even an increased percentage of body fat primarily in the abdominal region); risk decreases with weight and drug therapy
❑ lack of physical activity
❑ history of GDM
❑ hypertension
❑ Black, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, Asian American, Native American origin
❑ strong family history of diabetes
❑ older than age 45
❑ high-density lipoprotein cholesterol of less than 35 or triglyceride of greater than 250
❑ Seriously impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) test.
ELDER TIP As the body ages, the cells become more resistant to insulin, thus reducing the older adult’s ability to metabolize glucose. In addition, the release of insulin from the pancreatic beta cells is reduced and delayed. These combined processes result in hyperglycemia. In the older patient, sudden concentrations of glucose cause increased and more prolonged hyperglycemia.
The “other specific types” of DM result from various conditions (such as a genetic defect of the beta cells or endocrinopathies) or from use of or exposure to certain drugs or chemicals. GDM is considered present whenever a patient has any degree of abnormal glucose during pregnancy. This form may result from weight gain and increased levels of estrogen and placental hormones, which antagonize insulin.
Insulin transports glucose into the cell for use as energy and storage as glycogen. It also stimulates protein synthesis and free fatty acid storage in the fat deposits. Insulin deficiency compromises the body tissues’access to essential nutrients for fuel and storage.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Pancreatic cancer:
Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Evidence suggests that pancreatic cancer is linked to inhalation or absorption of the following carcinogens, which are then excreted by the pancreas:
❑cigarettes
❑food additives
❑industrial chemicals, such as beta-naphthalene, benzidine, and urea.
Possible predisposing factors are chronic pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, and chronic alcohol abuse (both pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus may be early manifestations of the disease as well).
Pancreatic cancer incidence increases with age, peaking between ages 60 and 70. Geographically, the incidence is highest in Israel, the United States, Sweden, and Canada.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Diabetes mellitus:
Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)
The effects of diabetes mellitus result from insulin deficiency. Insulin transports glucose into the cell for use as energy and storage as glycogen. It also stimulates protein synthesis and free fatty acid storage. Insulin deficiency or resistance compromises the body tissues’access to essential nutrients for fuel and storage.
Type 1A results from autoimmune beta-cell destruction, resulting in insulin deficiency. Type 1B leaves these immunologic markers but results in insulin deficiency and kerosis.
Other risk factors include the following:
❑ Obesity contributes to the resistance to endogenous insulin.
❑ Physiologic or emotional stress can cause prolonged elevation of stress hormone levels (cortisol, epinephrine, glucagon, and growth hormone). This raises blood glucose levels, which, in turn, places increased demands on the pancreas.
❑ Pregnancy causes weight gain and increases levels of estrogen and placental hormones, which antagonize insulin.
❑ Some medications can antagonize the effects of insulin, including thiazide diuretics, adrenal corticosteroids, and hormonal contraceptives.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Pancreatic cancer:
Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)
Pancreatic cancer, the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, is slightly more common in men than in women; risk increases with age. Almost one-third of cases result from cigarette smoking; some cases are related to hereditary syndromes.
Possible predisposing factors are chronic pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, and chronic alcohol abuse.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Pancreatitis:
Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)
The most common causes of pancreatitis are biliary tract disease and alcoholism; however, it can also result from pancreatic cancer, trauma, or certain drugs, such as glucocorticoids, sulfonamides, chlorothiazide, azathioprine, excessive use of acetaminophen, and hormonal contraceptives.
This disease may also develop as a complication of peptic ulcer, mumps, or hypothermia. Rarer causes are stenosis or obstruction of the sphincter of Oddi, hypercalcemia, duodenal obstruction, hyperlipemia, ischemia from vasculitis or vascular disease, viral infections, mycoplasmal pneumonia, scorpion venom, and pregnancy. The disease may also be familial or idiopathic.
AGE ALERT: In children, pancreatitis may coincide with abdominal trauma, cystic fibrosis, hemolytic uremic syndrome, Kawasaki disease, mumps, Reye’s syndrome, viral illness, or medications the child may be taking.
Pancreatitis may also develop in a patient after surgery. This occurrence has the highest morbidity and mortality. Whatever the cause, complications from acute pancreatitis are possible.
CLINICAL TIP: Determining the cause of pancreatitis is useful for managing and predicting complications.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Pancreatic Pseudocyst:
Pancreatic Pseudocyst - risk factors
(The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult)
Acute or chronic pancreatitis
Pancreatic Pseudocyst - pathophysiology
- Pancreatic pseudocysts develop shortly after an attack of acute pancreatitis or insidiously in chronic pancreatitis.
- Disruption in the pancreatic ductular system result in the extravasation of pancreatic enzymes evoking an inflammatory response.
- The inflammatory reaction leads to a fluid collection that is rich in pancreatic enzymes and is termed “acute pancreatic fluid collection” (PFC).
- If the duration of the fluid collection is >4 weeks, becomes localized (intrapancreatic or extrapancreatic), and develops a fibrin capsule, it is called as a “pseudopancreatic cyst.”
- The pseudocyst does not have a true epithelial lining.
- If there is communication between the pseudocyst and the pancreatic duct, the enzyme level in the fluid remains elevated, and if there is no communication, the enzyme level falls with time.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 2008
Pancreatitis:
Pancreatitis - etiology
(The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult)
- Idiopathic (20–25%)
- Trauma:
- Bicycle handle injuries
- Motor vehicle collisions
- Child abuse
- Postoperative:
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Scoliosis surgery
- Transplantation
- Infections:
- Bacterial:
- Viral: Measles, mumps, Epstein-Barr virus, Coxsackie B, rubella, influenza, echovirus, hepatitis A and B
- Parasites (Ascaris lumbricoides, Echinococcus granulosus, Cryptosporidium parvum, Plasmodium falciparum)
- Biliary tract disease:
- Gallstones
- Sclerosing cholangitis
- Congenital anomalies:
- Pancreatic divisum
- Annular pancreas
- Anomalous choledochopancreaticoduodenal junction
- Biliary tract malformations
- Duplication cyst of the duodenum/gastropancreatic/common bile duct
- Metabolic:
- Hyperlipidemia
- Hypercalcemia
- Uremia
- Inborn errors of metabolism
- Systemic disease:
- Shock/Hypoxemia
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome
- Crohn disease
- Celiac disease
- Malnutrition: Anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and refeeding syndrome
- Diabetes mellitus
- Mitochondropathy
- Hemochromatosis
- Vasculitis: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Henoch-Schönlein purpura, Kawasaki disease
- Drugs: L-asparaginase, azathioprine/6-MP, mesalamine, sulfonamides, thiazides, furosemide, tetracyclines, valproic acid, corticosteroids, estrogens, procainamide, ethacrynic acid, and others
- Toxins:
- Alcohol, organophosphates, scorpion poison, snake poison
- Hereditary:
- Cystic fibrosis: CFTR mutations
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 2008
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