Hereditary pancreatitis is a fairly rare type of pancreatitis that gets passed genetically. Like all forms of pancreatitis, hereditary pancreatitis results in inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ that releases digestive enzymes and helps your body regulate insulin and blood sugar levels. Therefore, when it’s inflamed, these capabilities are impaired.
Typically, people with hereditary pancreatitis experience recurrent and ongoing bouts of pancreas inflammation. This can lead to additional dangerous health conditions, including pancreatic cancer. Therefore, it’s important to know if you have hereditary pancreatitis so that you can seek the proper treatment. Although there’s no cure for hereditary pancreatitis, treatment can help with symptoms, reduce inflammation, and help you lead a normal life.
The signs and symptoms of hereditary pancreatitis are very similar to those of other forms of pancreatitis. Most people experience their first bout of pancreatitis in their pre-teen or teenage years. Because it’s their first bout, people rarely suspect hereditary or chronic pancreatitis. It isn’t until symptoms return over and over again that they begin to suspect it’s a chronic condition. Here are some of the signs and symptoms of pancreatitis, hereditary or otherwise.
As with most conditions, symptoms will vary from person to person depending on how severe the condition is. However, the main feature of hereditary pancreatitis is that you get it repeatedly.
Hereditary pancreatitis is a genetic condition that gets passed from parents to their child or children. In order for a child to inherit pancreatitis, both parents have to be carriers of the genetic mutation. Most commonly, the gene that mutates and causes hereditary pancreatitis is the PRSS1 gene, but mutations of the following genes can also lead to the condition.
If only one parent is a carrier of the genetic mutation, their children will also become carriers but won’t develop the condition. This only happens if both parents are carriers of the genetic mutation. Because of the genetic nature of hereditary pancreatitis, it’s a good idea for parents to get tested for the gene mutation before they have children.
Just as hereditary pancreatitis manifests itself as other types of pancreatitis, doctors will use the same tools when making their diagnosis. Typically, one or more of the following methods are used.
People who have pancreatitis will have high levels of certain liver and pancreatic enzymes. They will also have a high white blood cell count and impaired kidney function.
A stool test is necessary to examine how well your digestive system is working. It’s also necessary to measure the amount of fat in your system.
Finally, doctors will use a variety of imaging tests to check for pancreatitis. This includes x-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds, and an endoscopy. Imaging tests will help your doctor see if your pancreas is inflamed or if you have gallstones or blockages in your system.
Unfortunately, there’s currently no permanent cure for hereditary pancreatitis. The best that your doctors can do is treat the symptoms of pancreatitis as they appear and prescribe treatments and medications to repress future attacks.
The first stage of treating pancreatitis will be to rehydrate and replenish enzymes and electrolytes in your body. Next, you’ll be given medications to help with the pain of pancreatitis and to help you have normal bowel movements. Medications can also reduce inflammation of the pancreas. You may also need to make dietary and lifestyle changes to prevent future attacks.
Finally, with these dietary and lifestyle changes, as well as medications, you may be able to avoid future bouts of pancreatitis. However, the condition will never completely go away, and you’ll always be prone to attacks.