Natural history of acute pancreatitis: a long-term population-based study.

Objectives: It is unknown whether after an initial attack of acute pancreatitis, the inflamed gland heals completely, or whether and under what circumstances the disease progresses to chronic pancreatitis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the progression of disease from acute to chronic pancreatitis.

Methods: During a 20-year period, 532 patients who were hospitalized after an initial attack of acute pancreatitis were followed up for an average of 7.