Pecularities of the Pancreatitis Development on the Background of Some Rheumatic Diseases

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the main pathogenetic mechanisms of pancreatic lesions on the background of systemic connective tissue diseases based on the analytical analysis of modern literature data. Materials and methods. Bibliosemantic and analytical methods were used in the research. Results and discussion. The main pathogenetic link of the pancreatitis development in patients with systemic connective tissue diseases is vasculitis of the pancreas. Increased expression of adhesion molecules with activation of leukocytes and endothelial cells, deposition of circulating immune complexes in the vascular wall, production of antibodies to endothelial cells, capillary basement membranes play an important role in this process. In systemic lupus erythematosus, according to various authors, the frequency of arteritis varies greatly: rates range from 6.2-7.4 to 53%. In rheumatoid arthritis, the frequency of arteritis of the pancreatic vessels reaches 50%, in systemic sclerosis – 17%. Secondary Sjogren's syndrome is associated with autoimmune pancreatitis in a quarter of cases, but is not the cause. In diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus, antibodies that can attack phospholipids of cell membranes are produced. Antiphospholipid syndrome develops often in systemic lupus erythematosus (70% of cases). In rheumatic fever patients’ changes in the pancreas were studied only in single studies. The main mechanism of pathogenesis of both acute and chronic pancreatitis in nodular periarteritis is the involvement of small and medium arteries of the pancreas in the pathological process. In granulomatous polyangiitis in the pancreas reveals vascular-granulomatous changes, resulting in the formation of extravasations, necrotic foci, foci of atrophy, sclerosis. In IgA vasculitis, changes in the structure of the pancreas are minimal or there are isolated small subcapsular hemorrhages. It is established that metabolic disorders occur in many rheumatic diseases. Thus, reduced glucose tolerance is observed in 7–74% of patients, hypercholesterolemia and triglyceridemia – in 50–75%, hypertension – in 25–50% of cases. Conclusion. Thus, the diagnostic approach to the pancreatitis in systemic connective tissue diseases is very difficult. Its manifestations are masked by damage of the other organs. The availability of more sensitive diagnostic methods, their accessibility can provide an opportunity to detect symptoms of pancreatitis earlier, which will contribute to the appointment of optimal treatment, improvement of the prognosis, quality of life and survival of such patients