Differences between acute and chronic pancreatitis
- • Acute pancreatitis is almost always painful, whereas pain is not always present with chronic pancreatitis.
- • Patients with acute pancreatitis tend to have elevated amylase and lipase, whereas pancreatic enzyme levels are often normal in patients with chronic pancreatitis.
- • Pancreatic endocrine dysfunction, including diabetes and steatorrhea (diarrhea due to fat malabsorption), is seen almost exclusively with chronic pancreatitis.
