About
Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) affects 56 out of 100,000 people each year. Gallstone disease and alcohol are the most common risks factors. Pancreatitis can be mild, but one in four people develop a severe form of the disease, which often requires critical care admission and long hospital stays. Despite intensive support, many people develop irreversible organ failure, life-threatening lung infections, and almost half of such patients will not survive. Little is known about what causes severe acute pancreatitis and treatment in hospital has largely been unchanged for over half a century. There are currently no drug treatments for pancreatitis.
Our genes may play an important role in the risk of getting a more severe form of pancreatitis. Genetic variations between people may explain why some progress to a severe form of acute pancreatitis, while others do not. Previous published work has suggested a relationship between specific genetic variants and severe acute pancreatitis, but existing research is limited, and further evidence is very much needed.
We would like to use the vast amount of data collected by the UK Biobank, in particular genetic information, and hospital admissions to identify all people that developed pancreatitis and determine whether their genetic variations play a role in the risk of severe disease. Our research is likely to take one year to complete. Findings from this research would not only provide greater clarity into understanding the disease but also potentially identify future drug targets to treat pancreatitis.