What have we learned about acute pancreatitis in children?

Abstract

Pediatric pancreatitis has received much attention during the past few years. Numerous reports have identified an increasing trend in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in children and key differences in disease presentation and management between infants and older children. The present review provides a brief, evidence-based focus on the latest progress in the clinical field. It also poses important questions for emerging multicenter registries to answer about the natural history and management of affected children with pancreatitis.

FIGURE 1

Cellular pathways leading to pancreatic inflammation in pancreatitis. Experimental models of pancreatitis demonstrate that 1 or several insults can trigger pathological Ca²⁺ signals within the pancreatic acinar cell. Aberrant Ca²⁺ can cause intraacinar protease activation and the production of cytokines, recruitment of inflammatory cells, edema, and varying degrees of severity. Recovery and regeneration of the pancreas after injury may serve as an important target for therapy.