Anton Vavrečka, Michelle Swekla
Criteria of metabolic syndrome are obesity (predominantly abdominal), glucose metabolism disorder, dyslipidemia and hypertension. It is known that metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases. However, it is less known as a risk factor for the development of diseases of other organs, including the gastrointestinal tract.
Metabolic syndrome plays a role in reflux disease of the oesophagus, nonspecific inflammatory bowel diseases, carcinoma of the colon and rectum as well as pancreatic cancer. Metabolic syndrome with obesity and hyperlipoproteinemia belongs to one of the risk factors for the development of acute pancreatitis. Several studies showed that metabolic syndrome increases the incidence of moderate and severe pancreatitis of other aetiology (e.g. alcoholic or biliary pancreatitis). It can also cause non-alcoholic fatty pancreas disease that can increase the blood loss related to pancreatic surgeries as well as the risk of post-surgical development of fistulas. Another disease related to metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, increases the risk of moderate up to severe acute pancreatitis, accompanied by SIRS, multiorgan failure and death.