Aetiology and pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis
| Pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis | Aetiology |
| Ductal obstruction | Gallstones |
| Alcohol* | |
| Post endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography | |
| Malignancy | |
| Mucinous tumours | |
| Pancreas divisum | |
| Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction | |
| Acinar cell injury | Alcohol* |
| Trauma | |
| Ischaemia | |
| Drugs (eg, corticosteroids, azathioprine and thiazides) | |
| Viruses | |
| Defective intracellular transport | Alcohol* |
| Hereditary | |
| Hypercalcaemia | |
| Hypertriglyceridaemia | |
| Autoimmune |
*Alcohol triggers acute pancreatitis via multiple mechanisms.