The most common cause is obstruction of the pancreatic duct by gallstones Damage to the pancreas cells by alcohol, viruses and certain medications cause enzymes to be released which again can cause the pancreas to digest itself. The pancreatic duct joins the common bile duct and enters the intestine in the same place. If a gallstone blocks the end of the common bile duct, this can also block the pancreatic duct. This causes the enzymes from the pancreas to build up and activate inside the pancreatic acinar cells, and to damage the pancreas itself Damage to the pancreas cells by alcohol and other causes also appear to lead to premature activation of enzymes within the pancreatic acinar cells. Why alcohol causes acute pancreatitis is unknown.
Some people have a pancreas which is sensitive to the effects of alcohol.
Acute pancreatitis is a very variable disease and it is not fully understood. Most cases are mild and involve a short stay in hospital with the pancreas completely healing and the patient fully recovering. The following tests are examples of what could be done. How acute pancreatitis is treated depends on how severe the disease is. Mild disease is treated by stopping the patient eating and drinking in the mormal way.