Genetic Factors in Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) describes the inflammatory response of the pancreas after it is stressed or injured above a threshold level. In animal models of AP, the type and amount of injury or stress required to trigger AP and the subsequent responses can be accurately determined, because many key variables can be controlled, including the breed (genetic background), age, sex, diet, and environment. In humans, all of these key variables may be hidden or differ to known and unknown degrees, making accurate predictions about the triggering threshold, the magnitude of the inflammatory response, and the subsequent outcomes challenging and inaccurate. Thus, treatments of AP in humans tend to be reactive and supportive.