Which of the following is the most common cause of acute pancreatitis in the US?

Gallstones are indeed recognized as the most common cause of acute pancreatitis in the United States. This condition occurs when a gallstone obstructs the pancreas’s duct or the bile duct, leading to inflammation and the potential for digestive enzymes to attack pancreatic tissue. The incidence of gallstones is notably high in populations with risk factors such as obesity, female gender, and certain dietary habits, which further contributes to their prominence as a cause of pancreatitis.

While other factors like medications, hyperlipidemia, and hypocalcemia can also lead to acute pancreatitis, they are far less common in comparison. Medications account for a smaller percentage of cases, and hyperlipidemia—although increasingly recognized—typically represents a lower incidence overall when considering acute causes. Hypocalcemia, while it may occur in various medical contexts, is not a primary cause of pancreatitis. Thus, the prevalence of gallstone-related cases highlights their significant role in the etiology of acute pancreatitis.