ABSTRACT
In up to 20% of the patients the reasons or predisposing factors are not identifiable. The peak of presentation of the disease occurs in patients between 35 and 55 years of age ( 4 ).
Abdominal pain is the main symptom of CP leading to inability to work, early retirement, and addiction to analgesics. Severe pain attacks are the leading causes for hospitalization. The natural course is characterized by a consecutive loss of pancreatic parenchyma by fibrosis leading to exocrine insufficiency with maldigestion and finally in advanced stages endocrine insufficiency.
