Anton Vavrečka
Acute pancreatitis is the most frequent digestive disease leading to hospitalization in developed countries. The incidence of AP varies widely among different series ranging from 5.4 to 79.8 cases per 100 000 inhabitants per year. Several conditions are generally accepted as potential causes of AP. Among these gallstones and alcohol are responsible for more than 80 % of episodes of the disease. Other causes are less frequent and include metabolic disorders, a large variety of drugs, obstruction to the flow of pancreatic juice. Also a wide variety of infectious agents are associated with AP. Acute iatrogenic pancreatitis may develop after invasive maneuvers on the pancreas. Small number of AP develops on the genetic or autoimmune basis. About 10 to 15 % of cases in adults remain idiopathic.