Endoscopic diagnosis and therapy of unexplained (idiopathic) acute pancreatitis.

A significant minority of patients with acute pancreatitis show no obvious cause for the attack during a routine evaluation. There is no consensus regarding the appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic approach in this setting. This article reviews the available data, outlines directions for further investigation, and provides recommendations for management of patients who have recovered from a prior episode of unexplained acute pancreatitis.