Prognosis

Pain

Generally, pain decreases or disappears over time, regardless of etiology: 67% of juvenile idiopathic chronic pancreatitis after 27 years, 64% of late-onset idiopathic chronic pancreatitis after 13 years, and 77% of alcohol-related chronic pancreatitis after 14 years.[10][11]​​ Pain relief correlates with development of late complications of calcifications and exocrine and/or endocrine insufficiency in 60% to 80% of patients, unrelated to etiology and/or surgery.[10][11][126]​​ However, pain may vary from patient to patient, does not always decrease over time, and can be unpredictable.[127] Recurrent pain (received pain relief for 2 years or more) is associated with pancreatitis, pseudocysts, and obstructive cholestasis, the latter two being the most prominent causes of constant/prolonged pain.[10][124]​​

Survival

Ten-year survival after diagnosis is 20% to 30% lower than the general population.[251] Data obtained from long-term natural history studies showed that median life expectancy varies with etiology (juvenile idiopathic chronic pancreatitis, 50 years; senile idiopathic chronic pancreatitis, 77-80 years; alcohol-related chronic pancreatitis, 55-72 years; and hereditary pancreatitis, 44 years). 

The most common causes of death varied with etiology. In juvenile idiopathic chronic pancreatitis, the major cause of death was pancreatic carcinoma. In late-onset idiopathic chronic pancreatitis, cardiovascular disease and extrapancreatic malignancy were the most common causes of death, followed by complications of pancreatitis. In alcohol-related chronic pancreatitis, cardiovascular disease was the most common cause of death, followed by complications of pancreatitis. In hereditary pancreatitis, malignancy was the most common cause of death.[10][11]

Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer