Pattern of acute pancreatitis

Objective: The aim of this communication was to study the clinical pattern of acute pancreatitis with special reference to aetiology, severity, season al variation and outcome in the high altitude region of Asir. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, hospital-based study. All consecutive c ases of acute pancreatitis admitted to Asir Central Hospital, Abha, Saudi A rabia over a two and half-year period (May 1996 - October 1998) were includ ed. Clinical and laboratory data were analyzed to determine the severity of the attack according to Ranson's criteria. Results: There was a total of 73 attacks of acute pancreatitis in 69 patien ts. Mean patient age was 51.01 years (range = 13-120 years) and the male to female ratio was 0.6:1. In 68.5%, gallstones were the associated cause and idiopathic acute pancreatitis was diagnosed in 25%. Using Ranson's severit y prediction criteria, 44% of the attacks were classified as "severe", but only 22% of the patients so classified developed complications. Pseudocysts and Pancreatic abscess complicated three cases. Complications were signifi cantly correlated with cold seasons (P=0.04), intervention by Endoscopic re trograde cholangiopancreatography (P=0.02) and severity (P=0.02). Conclusion: This study revealed that acute pancreatitis seen in Asir region is predominantly biliary-associated and is more frequent in females. Altho ugh near half of the attacks were classified as severe pancreatitis, accord ing to Ranson's criteria, complications occurred in only 22% of the attacks and this may indicate that Ranson's criteria needs to be modified before a pplication in our setting.