In chronic pancreatitis, widespread scarring and destruction of pancreatic tissue occurs. In about 80% of cases, the disorder results from prolonged and excessive alcohol intake.

Chronic pancreatitis typically affects the exocrine functions of the pancreas first and results in weight loss because of the intestines' inability to digest food and absorb nutrition. Patients with chronic pancreatitis are at risk for developing:

• calculi that can block or cause stenosis of bile ducts
• diabetes mellitus
• gastric bleeding
• pancreatic cancer
• portal hypertension
• pseudocysts
• severe, chronic pain.