When the pancreatic acinar cells are damaged or the the pancreatic ducts are blocked, often because of alcohol abuse or gallstones, the inactive zymogens that the pancreas produces can be prematurely converted to active digestive enzymes.

通常由酒精滥用或胆结石导致的胰腺腺泡细胞受损或胰管阻塞时，胰腺产生的无活性酶原可被过早转化为活性消化酶。