Idiopathic Recurrent Acute Pancreatitis (IRAP)

The IRAP Registry is a Multi-center Prospective, Collaborative Database Designed to Create a National Registry That Collects Information Concerning Episodes of Idiopathic Recurrent Acute Pancreatitis From Major 'Pancreas' Centers. Intent is to do a Comparative Effectiveness Study of Interventions.

The purpose of this study is to collect standardized data on the diagnosis and management of idiopathic (unknown cause) recurrent acute pancreatitis. The intent is to collect data for at least five years to obtain information regarding long-term outcomes and obtain comparative effectiveness data.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. 18 years or older
2. Able to provide consent
3. More than one documented episode of pancreatitis (>3 fold elevation of amylase and or lipase with abdominal pain or with body imaging consistent with pancreatitis: need two of the three)
4. Subjects with abdominal pain and enzyme elevation which is <3 fold above normal or absence of imaging findings: these subjects who are undergoing endoscopic interventions but do not fit the "classic criteria" for pancreatitis will be included but the analysis of data of these subjects would be done separately.

Note: subjects with a diagnosis of pancreas divisum and or Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction diagnosed prior to or after entry into the study will be included in the study but their data will be analyzed separately because of the controversy regarding the association of these entities with pancreatitis.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Unable to give informed consent.
2. Definite evidence of biliary or alcoholic pancreatitis.
3. Clear evidence of hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis (triglycerides >1,000 mg/dl).
4. Post-ERCP pancreatitis, drug-induced pancreatitis, or any identifiable cause for pancreatitis.
5. History of pancreatic surgery.