Drinking Can Lead To Pancreatic Tissue Death In Patients - Simple Solution Found To Stabilize Pancreatic Attack

Chronic and excessive alcohol consumption is linked to a variety of health woes, including acute pancreatitis, a condition characterized by inflammation of the pancreas which can lead to permanent organ damage. This study is published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology.


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While approximately 100,000 Americans suffer from acute pancreatitis, only about 20% experience the more severe effects of the disease, including prolonged hospital stays, permanent tissue damage and, in some cases, death. ???Chronic or excessive alcohol drinkers have a high risk of completely destroying large sections of their pancreas if it suddenly becomes inflamed,??? says study author David Whitcomb.


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Whitcomb does note that alcohol use increases the risk of tissue damage, but does not significantly increase the risk of patient death during an attack. ???Our results indicate that alcohol makes the pancreas more susceptible to permanent damage, but does not commonly lead to a system-wide collapse.???


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Clinicians may want to consider using a simple and inexpensive treatment when these attacks occur: salt water. According to Whitcomb, ???Aggressively hydrating alcoholic patients who might be experiencing an attack of acute pancreatitis may help minimize further damage to the pancreas.???


The American Journal of Gastroenterology meets the day-to-day demands of clinical practice. Aimed at practicing clinicians, the journal's articles deal directly with the disorders seen most often in patients. The journal brings a broad-based, interdisciplinary approach to the study of gastroenterology, including articles reporting on current observations, research results, methods of treatment, drugs, epidemiology, and other topics relevant to clinical gastroenterology. For more information, please visit >blackwell-synergy/loi/ajg


???The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) was founded in 1932 to advance the scientific study and medical practice of diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The College promotes the highest standards in medical education and is guided by its commitment to meeting the individual and collective needs of clinical GI practitioners. For more information, please visit >acg.gi.


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