中文摘要：

急性胰腺炎（acute pancreatitis,AP）是多种病因引起胰酶激活,以胰腺局部炎症反应为主要特征,伴或不伴有其它器官功能改变的疾病,是临床上常见的急腹症。重者起病急骤、病情危重,称为重症急性胰腺炎（severe acute pancreatitis,SAP）。AP的发病机制非常复杂，其发生发展受多种因素影响。

英文摘要：

Although we have understood only limited knowledge about the pathophysiological mechanisms of acute pancreatitis （AP）,it has at least been proven that the activation of pancreatic zymogens inside the pancreatic acinar cells,as well as the inflammatory reaction resulting from the inflammatory mediators,including the cytokines and oxygen free radicals,constitute the main reason for the early pathological processes of AP. The inflammatory mediators also facilitate the complications such as lung injury and multiple organ dysfunctions. The bacterial translocation,which aggravates the pathological changes and increases the mortality in AP,causes the pathophysiological vicious circle in the later period of the disease. There is no doubt that the levels of the clinical prevention,diagnosis and treatment for AP will be greatly improved along with the elucidation of its pathogenesis.