Thank you for visiting the new Pancreas.org site. Topics of interest to patients, families and students are listed below. See the Navigation Bar at the top for more topics.
New! –> “AGA-PancreasFest Joint Symposium on Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency” from PancreasFest 2021 (check back)
“International Consensus Statements on Early Chronic Pancreatitis” from PancreasFest 2018 plus.. (Click here)
“Mechanism, assessment and management of pain in chronic pancreatitis: Recommendations of a multidisciplinary study group“. Results of a three year study of pancreatitis pain published in 2016. (Click here)
“Detection, evaluation and treatment of diabetes mellitus in chronic pancreatitis: Recommendations from PancreasFest 2012“. These specifically address issues surrounding when and how to screen for diabetes, including Type 3c (pancreatogenic diabetes).(Click here for Abstract).
“Total pancreatectomy and islet autotransplantation in chronic pancreatitis: Recommendations from PancreasFest” These recommendations guid physicians in the evaluation and management of patients before, and after TPIAT. Click here for Abstract”
Ariel Precision Medicine (APM) has launched a revolutionary new tool for healthcare providers (HCP) and patients called SNaP-Shot. This required a new approach to the early diagnosis and treatment of chronic and complex disorders using a customized, high-density genotyping array, linked with disease models and clinical decision support (CDS) information. The video above gives Prof. Whitcomb’s view of the new product. (Prof. Whitcomb is an independent consultant whose views and opinions do not represent APM, the University of Pittsburgh or UPMC. (c) SMART-MD publishing LLC)
“Is pancreatitis in your genes?”
Mission:Cure held a webinar that was join by hundreds of patients and healthcare workers. The speakers were Professor David Whitcomb MD PhD (starting at 5:26 min) and Mark Haupt MD (starting at 30:10 min) from Ariel Precision Medicine, a health information technology company that integrates extensive genetic, environmental, biomarker and other data into a Clinical Report – the FIRST precision medicine offering for pancreatic diseases. To view the Webinar click (here)
The talks focus on why our approach to pancreatitis must change, and how to use genetic information without being a genetics expert! The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Consider passing it on as appropriate. The PancreasDx test is now available through ARIEL.
PancreasFest 2023 dates have been set for July 27-28, 2023 on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh. The program will be a jointly sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, and the Collaborative Alliance for Pancreatic Education and Research (CAPER). For more information please go to www.pancreasfest.org.
Pancreas Academy!
Pancreas Academy is an intense primer on all aspects of pancreatic anatomy, physiology, pathology, disease types and treatment options. It is designed for allied health care professionals and trainees who need a solid background for their jobs. Pancreas Academy offers teaching from the world’s experts. Follow this link to previously recorded presentations and to schedule upcoming presentations for on-line participation.
The two parts of the definition include the “essence” and the “characteristics”
Essence – “Chronic pancreatitis is a pathologic fibro-inflammatory syndrome of the pancreas in individuals with genetic, environmental and/or other risk factors who develop persistent pathologic responses to parenchymal injury or stress”.
Characteristics – “Common features of established and advanced CP include pancreatic atrophy, fibrosis, pain syndromes, duct distortion and strictures, calcifications, pancreatic exocrine dysfunction, pancreatic endocrine dysfunction and dysplasia.”
The publication of the article in Pancreatology (the official journal of the International Association of Pancreatology) has triggered international debated and general acceptance (see below).
A video presentation of the concepts is provided here, with discussion on the official Pancreatology web site (http://www.pancreatology.net/content/new-definition-chronic-pancreatitis).
CME Programs on Pancreatic Diseases
Pancreatitis Genetic Variant – Website.
A mutation web site (https://pancreasgenetics.org/) provides information on the functional consequence of various pancreatitis genes such as PRSS1, SPINK1 etc. The site is maintained by Prof. Miklos Sahin-Toth MD PhD and is currently being rebuilt.
PEaRL .:. Pancreatitis Education and Research Letter
PEaRL news letter page – See “Patient Information” link above
