The Emerging Role of Smoking in the Development of Pancreatitis

Background/Aims: Cigarette smoking has been linked to many diseases, including pancreatic cancer and more recently, pancreatitis. Methods: Electronic searches of primarily PubMed from 1990 to August 2011 were conducted and only articles published in English were reviewed. Original articles and reviews were selected based on screening of article abstracts and their relevance to tobacco smoking, its components, nicotine and its metabolites, and their effects particularly on the pancreas. Results: Smoking may affect the risk of developing chronic pancreatitis or its progression. Smoking may also affect the risk for developing acute pancreatitis. Its effects in pancreatitis appear to be dose dependent and its effects may be alcohol independent but synergize with alcohol. Conclusion: Specific constituents of cigarette smoke, including nicotine and its metabolites, could mediate effects on the pancreas.