Effect of Endotherapy on the Progression of Chronic Pancreatitis in Painless Patients

This is a prospective, randomized controlled trial. Patients will be divided into conservative or endoscopic group and FE-1 is tested to evaluate pancreatic exocrine function. The effect of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and endoscopic treatment on the progression of chronic pancreatitis in painless patients will be determined.

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a pathologic fibro-inflammatory syndrome of the pancreas that eventually leads to damage of the gland in individuals with genetic, environmental and/or other risk factors. If widespread, this damage causes failure of exocrine and endocrine pancreatic function resulting in steatorrhea and diabetes. The global pooled incidence of CP is 10 cases [95% Confidence interval (CI) 8-12] per 100,000 general population per year. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) has become first-line therapy for patients with chronic pancreatitis according to guidelines. Endoscopic therapy has been proved effective and safe. The clearance rate of pancreatic stones was 42-76%, and the pain relief rate was 15-85%.

Pain is the major clinical features of CP and remained a major clinical challenge. It is present in up to 90% of patients and is the main cause of hospitalization in most patients.Patten of pain for patients with chronic pancreatitis differs widely.

However, some CP patients have never had abdominal pain during the course of the disease, and participants are often diagnosed with CP due to diabetes or steatorrhea, which are called painless CP, accounting for about 10% of the CP population. These patients are mainly characterized as pancreatic endocrine and exocrine insufficiency. Some studies proposed that painless CP may be related to the severity of inflammation and the pain sensitivity of patients, but the mechanism has not yet been elucidated.

It is still controversial whether painless CP requires active endoscopic intervention or not. The United European Gastroenterology evidence-based guidelines does not recommend endoscopic treatment in painless CP patients, but the recommendation is not supported by strong clinical research evidence. European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline proposed whether active endoscopic treatment had a protective effect on the pancreatic function of patients with painless CP is still unconfirmed. On the contrary, a small sample study consisting of 41 CP patients by Katsushi found that endoscopic treatment can delay the progression of exocrine dysfunction in CP patients.Considering these contradicting results, it is urgent to conduct a clinical study to determine the effect of endoscopic treatment on preservation of pancreatic function in patients with CP.