acute pancreatitis [Gk, pan, all, kreas, flesh, itis, inflammation] , a sudden inflammation of the pancreas caused by autodigestion and marked by symptoms of acute abdomen and escape of pancreatic enzymes into the pancreatic tissues. The condition is associated with trauma, biliary disease or alcoholism. The autodigestion is caused by premature activation of the digestive enzymes. Acute pancreatitis can also be of unknown cause. See also pancreatitis.
