[ACUTE PANCREATITIS IN FAMILY PHYSICIAN PRACTICE].

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a serious illness, defined as acute inflammation of the pancreas, which can result in damage to the surrounding tissue and other organ systems. It is considered as a set of dynamic, local and systemic pathophysiological changes, caused by sudden rush of lithic pancreatic enzymes into glandular parenchyma. AP is an inflammatory process caused by auto-digestion of pancreatic tissue due to early activation of the zymogen into the active proteolytic enzyme. The most common causes are biliary disease and alcohol abuse. Clinical presentation is predominated by severe upper abdominal pain. Depending on the disease severity, it may be associated with systemic complications and damage to distant organs. The majority of patients have multiply elevated serum concentrations of pancreatic enzymes, amylase and lipase. AP may have a variable course and prognosis, from mild to severe forms and potentially lethal disease; therefore, early assessment using different prognostic parameters is of utmost importance. Clinical signs vary from mild interstitial pancreatitis to severe pancreatitis with necrosis and associated multiple organ failure. The clinical course of mild AP is generally without complications and full recovery is expected. Treatment is conservative and/or surgical, and consists of pain control, fluid replacement, nutritional support, and prevention of complications. Key words: