Dr. Rishi Chadha, MD is a board‑certified gastroenterologist who specializes in preventive gastroenterology, colorectal cancer screening, and minimally invasive endoscopic procedures. He completed his fellowship at Sunrise Health GME in Las Vegas and previously trained in internal medicine at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Connecticut.
Hereditary pancreatitis is a rare, genetic condition passed down through families. It causes recurrent inflammation (swelling) of the pancreas, often beginning in childhood or early adulthood. This form of pancreatitis is not related to alcohol use. ICD-10 code: K86.1.
Dr. Chadha begins by taking a detailed family and personal health history, looking for patterns of recurrent pancreatitis and assessing non-alcoholic risk factors.
He orders serum amylase and lipase levels to confirm active inflammation and rule out other causes of abdominal pain.
Targeted genetic panels screen for known mutations (PRSS1, SPINK1, CFTR) that drive hereditary pancreatitis.
When indicated, noninvasive tests assess exocrine insufficiency and help guide enzyme replacement therapy.
Dr. Rishi Chadha, MD is a board‑certified gastroenterologist who specializes in preventive gastroenterology, colorectal cancer screening, and minimally invasive endoscopic procedures. He completed his fellowship at Sunrise Health GME in Las Vegas and previously trained in internal medicine at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Connecticut.
Strong upper belly pain (often radiating to the back), nausea, vomiting, unplanned weight loss and greasy or loose stools that return frequently.
Hereditary pancreatitis is very rare, affecting about 1 in 100,000 people.
The ICD-10 code for hereditary pancreatitis is K86.1.
Yes, with proper care, diet, enzyme supplementation, pain management and regular check-ups, many patients lead normal lives.
Long-term inflammation slightly increases the risk of pancreatic cancer, so regular monitoring is recommended.
Treatment includes a low-fat diet, pancreatic enzyme supplements, pain control and possibly endoscopic procedures or, in severe cases, TPIAT surgery.
Yes, genetic testing for PRSS1, SPINK1 and other mutations is available for at-risk family members, including children.
A low-fat, nutrient-rich diet with small, frequent meals. A registered dietitian can create a customized meal plan.
See a GI specialist if you have repeated abdominal pain, a family history of pancreatitis, or unexplained digestive symptoms.
