What is pancreatic fibrosis?

More information on Pancreatic Fibrosis

The pancreas is part of the human digestive system and is responsible for the production of specific enzymes involved in food processing. This organ consists of two types of tissues, called stroma and parenchyma.

A stroma is a kind of connecting frame that performs a supporting function.

Cells that make up the parenchyma are responsible for the functioning of the organ: secrete pancreatic juice, produce enzymes and some types of hormones.

Under the fibrosis of the pancreas is understood the process, during which the destruction of the parenchyma of the organ occurs.

Normal cells, natural for its structure, are transformed into a connective tissue that is not capable of producing the necessary substances.

The human pancreas can suffer both from fibrosis, during which the glandular tissue of the organ is replaced by scar tissue, and from lipomatosis, a process characterized by the replacement of glandular tissue by fat.

In advanced cases such pathological processes can be combined, taking the form of fibrolipomatosis.

This disease is often observed in people suffering from impaired metabolism( in particular from diabetes mellitus).

Unfortunately, both fibrosis, and lipomatosis, and their combined form - fibrolipomatosis - are irreversible diseases.

However, with the help of correct, and most importantly, timely treatment, these processes can be localized and prevent the degradation of still intact cells.

If you ignore the course of this pathology and do not take any conservative or operative measures to stop it, then you can provoke the development of tumorous processes, such as fibromas or lipomas.

The main causes of pancreatic fibrosis:

• inflammatory processes, localized in the tissues of the organ;
• alcoholism and tobacco smoking;
• severe intoxication with alcohol substitutes or various chemicals;
• various infectious diseases;
• inflammatory pathologies peculiar to the gallbladder and bile ducts;
• an unbalanced diet containing a large amount of fatty and fried foods;
• obesity;
• long-term use of potent drugs without a doctor's control;
• thyroid hyperactivity and hereditary cystic fibrosis.

Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

People at risk of developing pancreatic fibrosis who have any of the diseases listed in the list above, and also suffer from the presence of bad habits.

It should be noted that this pathology is more common in the elderly than in young people, but even small children are not insured against particular cases of its occurrence.

Symptoms that are characteristic of pancreatic fibrosis can be specific and nonspecific.

These symptoms can be conventionally combined into one list:

• pain localized in the epigastric region and radiating to the lumbar region or the zone of hypochondrium( usually after eating);
• a feeling of heaviness in the stomach after eating;
• belching, bad breath;
• nausea, occasionally vomiting, which does not bring relief;
• signs of dyspeptic disorders;
• frequent diarrhea( liquid stool with large undigested food particles);
• rapid weight loss.

When a local fibrosis develops into fibroids( a benign tumor composed of connective tissue), this tumor starts to press on adjacent organs and provoke additional disease symptoms, such as persistent vomiting, yellowing of the sclera of the eye and skin, hyperthermia, etc..

diagnosis of fibrosis of the pancreasThe gland is carried out by means of ultrasound.

Video:

If such a diagnosis will reveal that in the pancreas have any areas having increased echogenicity, the patient sent for further tests, for example, on a CT scan of abdominal area.

In addition, the results of laboratory tests can reveal the presence of pancreatic fibrosis.

As a rule, the list of such analyzes includes the general biochemistry of blood, and scatology, and a general analysis of urine, and the so-called "Lasus test".

All of them can point to the inadequacy of pancreatic enzymes observed in the fibrosis of this organ.

To forget about the symptoms of this disease, greatly affecting the quality of life of a person, you should follow the treatment prescribed by your doctor.

As mentioned above, it is impossible to completely get rid of pancreatic fibrosis, therefore therapy of this disease should be aimed at arresting the further spread of pathology.

In addition, to normalize the number of enzymes in the body, lost due to fibrosis, you should take special preparations saturated with these substances.

Surgical treatment of fibrosis of the pancreas is assigned to the case, when the pathology threatens human health, for example, develops into a fibroma.

principles of proper nutrition in fibrosis of the pancreas

symptoms characteristic of the disease, can be mitigated through proper and balanced diet.

Typically, people suffering from this disease, it is necessary to adhere to the power scheme that encourages healing diet number 5, made M. I. Pevznerom, founder of Clinical Nutrition in the USSR.

To feed on Pevzner should be divided, there are at least five times a day. It is necessary to deliberately reduce the amount of absorbed food in order to ease the load on the digestive tract and simplify the processes of its processing.

Food intended for people who experience symptoms of pancreatic fibrosis should have a warm, not hot or cold temperature.

All food that involves heat treatment must be steamed or boiled or baked without the addition of animal or vegetable fat.

In addition, it is recommended to abandon the use of salt or significantly reduce its number in dishes.

You should also limit the use of sugar, other flavor enhancers, spices and spices. With restrictions, you should also use foods such as honey, nuts and mushrooms.

products from the use of which should be avoided in the presence of fibrosis of the pancreas:

• fatty meats, fish and poultry, as well as soups, cooked on their basis;
• liver, kidneys and other by-products;
• smoked and salted;
• canned foods and foods saturated with taste enhancers and various food additives;
• animal and vegetable oils( the latter can be used, but with restrictions);
• fatty fermented milk products, hard cheeses;
• alcohol in any form;
• white bread, baked pastry;
• sweets( especially chocolate, ice cream, etc.);
• spicy sauces, mayonnaise, etc.

Pancreas fibrosis is a serious pathology that requires timely treatment.

To reduce the rate of conversion of glandular tissue into the cicatricial, a special diet will help, the meaning of which is to completely abandon harmful food.

The prognosis for people who caught this disease at the initial stage of its appearance is generally positive.