JD Bioscience

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is characterized by the sudden inflammation of the pancreas and occurs when digestive enzymes within the pancreas are abnormally activated. The main risk factors of AP are gallstones, which make up 40% of cases, and alcohol misuse, which makes up 30% of cases. Recent findings also indicate that type 2 diabetes or smoking can increase the risk of non-gallstone-related AP.

AP was the second-highest cause of total hospital stay and the fifth leading cause of in-hospital death in the USA in 2015. However, to date, no specific causal treatment for AP is available. Instead, supportive care, such as pain control, is the only available treatment.