Continuing episodes of pain in recurrent acute pancreatitis: Prospective follow up on a standardised protocol with drugs and pancreatic endotherapy

Table 1 Characteristics of patients with recurrent acute pancreatitis completing the study n (%)

Number	39
Age in years, median (range)	26 (9-55)
Male:female	32 (82):7 (18)
Alcohol abuse	11 (28.2)
Smokers	10 (25.6)
Number of pain episodes (yr), median (range)	3.00 (1-30)
Duration of symptoms (mo), median (range)	12.00 (1-48)
Family history of pancreatitis	0
Drug therapy alone/endotherapy	21 (53.9)/18 (46.1)
Duration of follow up, median (range)	13 (12-24)

Table 2 Visual analogue score and average number of days with pain per month all patients with recurrent acute pancreatitis and in the subgroups

	Baseline	1 yr	P value
All patients (n = 39)
VAS	7.7 (5.5, 8.3)	0 (0, 2)	< 0.001
Average number of days with pain per month	1.0 (1.0, 2.0)	1.0 (0, 1.0)	< 0.001
Patients on DT (n = 21)
VAS	7.3 (5.1, 8.3)	0 (0, 2.4)	< 0.001
Average number of days with pain per month	2.0 (1.0, 2.0)	1.0 (0.0, 1.0)	< 0.01
Patients on ET (n = 18)
VAS	7.1 (5.8, 8.4)	0 (0, 7.5)	< 0.01
Average number of days with pain per month	1.0 (1.0, 3.5)	1.0 (0.0, 1.0)	< 0.05

Data expressed as median (quartiles). VAS: Visual analogue scale.

Table 3 Quality of life scores in patients with recurrent acute pancreatitis above the age of 18 years and in the subgroups on drug therapy and endoscopic therapy

	Baseline	1 yr	P value
All patients (n = 31)	55.0 (44.0, 66.0)	38.0 (32.00, 51.00)	< 0.01
Patients on DT (n = 22)	55.0 (47.0, 64.0)	40.00 (31.50, 54.00)	< 0.01
Patients on ET (n = 9)	59.5 (47.5, 67.5)	36.0 (32.50, 54.3)	0.084

Data expressed as median (quartiles). DT: Drug therapy; ET: Endoscopic therapy.

Table 4 Comparison of serum C peptide and faecal elastase levels at baseline and end of follow up

	Baseline	1 yr	P value
All patients (n = 39)
C Peptide (35)	3.2 (2.8, 4.3)	6.4 (2.6, 11.5)	0.001
F Elastase (38)	401.94 (215.5, 484.8)	559.6 (411.3, 597.4)	< 0.001
Patients on DT (n = 21)
C Peptide (21)	4.13 (3.11, 4.35)	4.47 (2.55, 11.65)	0.079
F Elastase (24)	406.18 (220, 496.43)	559.55 (442.24, 597.30)	0.002
Patients on ET (n = 14)
C Peptide (14)	2.85 (2.15, 3.53)	7.52 (2.33,10.35)	0.004
F Elastase (14)	335.87 (207.3, 481.41)	562.70 (265.47, 597.35)	0.006

Data expressed as median (quartiles). DT: Drug therapy; ET: Endoscopic therapy.