Ascariasis is an important cause of acute pancreatitis in endemic areas, as are drugs such as dideoxyinosine and pentamidine in patients with HIV infection. Pancreatic exocrine function is substantially depressed early in acute pancreatitis but generally returns to normal. To estimate prognosis, new predictors and predictor systems continue to be developed, although no single predictor or system appears clearly superior. Recent studies evaluating somatostatin or its analogues in the treatment or prevention of acute pancreatitis have yielded disappointing results. Early endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography reduces the frequency of biliary sepsis in gallstone pancreatitis but does not affect the course of pancreatitis, whereas endoscopic stenting of the minor papilla reduces the likelihood of recurrence of acute pancreatitis in patients with pancreas divisum.