Metabolic aspects of fatty pancreatic disease

Abstract

Aim. To update the understanding of non-alcoholic fatty pancreatic disease as an important component of the development and maintenance of metabolic syndrome, to present current data on the connection of this pathology with cardiovascular risks, and to outline approaches to diagnosis and treatment. Key points. Metabolic syndrome is one of the most common pathologies that significantly increases cardiovascular risks. It is known that excessive accumulation of lipids in the pancreas in patients with metabolic syndrome inevitably entails impaired functioning of beta cells. However, the term characterizing metabolic dysfunction of the pancreas against the background of its steatosis was introduced into circulation relatively recently. Thus, non-alcoholic fatty pancreatic disease acquires its own definitions that distinguish it from the traditional morphological approach, which consists more in assessing the content of the proportion of adipose tissue, but not the connection with the components of the metabolic syndrome. It is known that patients with non-alcoholic fatty pancreatic disease are more likely to have type 2 diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension and atherosclerosis. Probably, the pathogenesis of its development is also closely related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusion. Non-alcoholic fatty pancreatic disease, being one of the key mechanisms of metabolic dysfunction, requires further research in order to determine preventive and therapeutic tactics. Keywords: insulin resistance, non-alcoholic fatty pancreatic disease, pancreatic steatosis, metabolic syndrome.