Splanchnic vein thrombosis in severe acute pancreatitis: a 2-year, single-institution experience.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine current practice in the management and outcome of splanchnic vein thrombosis complicating acute pancreatitis (AP).

Methods: An audit of prospectively collected data for all patients presenting with AP was conducted. Patients with splanchnic vein thrombosis were grouped according to vessel involvement and whether or not systemic anticoagulation was administered.

Pancreatic actinomycosis as a cause of retroperitoneal fibrosis in a patient with chronic pancreatitis. Case report and literature review.

Context: Chronic alcoholic pancreatitis is a debilitating disease that is often complicated by pseudotumoral changes of the pancreas, retroperitoneal fibrosis, and pancreatic cancer. Actinomycosis is an uncommon intra-abdominal infection and its association with chronic pancreatitis has been rarely reported.

Case Report: We present a case of a patient with progressive long standing chronic pancreatitis who develops pseudo-tumoural changes and retroperitoneal fibrosis associated with actinomycosis.

Clinical presentation and delayed treatment of cholangitis in older people.

Acute cholangitis is more common in older people, and increasing age is a determinant of morbidity and mortality, as is early biliary decompression by ERCP. This study aims to identify factors that may contribute to delays in the diagnosis and treatment of older people with acute cholangitis. Case notes of 122 patients (45 aged < 75 years, 77 > 75 years) with a final diagnosis of acute cholangitis who underwent ERCP were reviewed for presenting clinical features (pain, jaundice, rigors, fever, falls, incontinence, confusion), liver function tests, blood count, and the interval from admission to diagnosis, ultrasonography, and ERCP.

Genetic polymorphisms of GSTT1, GSTM1, GSTP1, MnSOD, and catalase in nonhereditary chronic pancreatitis: evidence of xenobiotic stress and impaired antioxidant capacity.

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a variety of potential environmental factors that may alter susceptibility to chronic pancreatitis (CP) through oxidative/xenobiotic stress; however, a direct causal and mechanistic role has not been established. We aimed (1) to determine the prevalence of functional genetic polymorphisms in the antioxidant enzymes, glutathione S-transferase GSTM-1, GSTP-1, and GSTT-1, manganese superoxide dismutase, and catalase in CP and (2) to reveal evidence of oxidative stress in patients with CP by measuring whole-blood glutathione redox status. In total, 122 patients with CP (75 alcohol-induced [A1CP], 33 idiopathic [ICP], and 13 hereditary) and 245 age- and sex-matched controls were recruited.