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Acute pancreatitis is a condition in which digestive enzymes within the pancreas begin to attack the gland and cause it to swell. As the condition progresses, acute pancreatitis will result in internal bleeding and pancreatic tissue death. Without treatment, acute pancreatitis will be fatal.
Each year, about 80,000 patients are diagnosed with new cases of acute pancreatitis. Of these, about 16,000 cases are severe.
The pancreas is an oblong gland that produces various enzymes and hormones essential to digestion and metabolism. Among the hormones produced by the pancreas is insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar, appetite and energy levels.
Patients whose pancreases produce too little or no insulin will be afflicted with diabetes and will likely need to receive insulin injections to prevent further health complications.
Both genetic factors and lifestyle choices can contribute to the development of acute pancreatitis. The primary causes of acute pancreatitis include:
While heavy use of alcohol is the leading cause of acute pancreatitis, one of the newest known causes of this condition is Byetta, a medication for type 2 diabetes.
Although Byetta rarely causes acute pancreatitis as a side effect of Byetta, to date, the FDA has received 30 reports of patients developing acute pancreatitis after taking Byetta. Of these, 21 required hospitalization, and 2 died.
Pancreatitis may come in one of two forms: acute or chronic. While acute pancreatitis is marked by severe pain and a quick on-set of symptoms, chronic pancreatitis is milder, as it develops slowly over longer periods of time. Both conditions require immediate treatment to prevent serious health problems.
Hospitalization, possibly in the intensive care ward, is usually the first step in treating acute pancreatitis. In addition to minimizing pain through medication, immediate treatments will include:
Depending on the initial cause of the condition, long-term follow up treatments may also include:
While the severity of the condition will dictate the length of recovery time, most patients will start to show improvement after a week of acute pancreatitis treatments.
If a Byetta treatment was the cause of your acute pancreatitis, it is important for you to meet with an experienced defective drug attorney, as you likely have a legal claim against Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly (Byetta's manufacturers).
Acute pancreatitis is a life-threatening condition, and those who develop it after taking Byetta will be entitled to a monetary settlement for their suffering, lost wages and medical bills.
If you have developed acute pancreatitis or another condition as a result of taking Byetta, contact us today to schedule a private consultation with a skilled Byetta lawyer who has experience in handling cases recover compensation for your losses.
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