Objective To analyze the clinical features， common etiologies， prevention measurements of recurrent acute pancreatitis （AP）. Methods The clinical characteristics and imaging examination data of 43 patients with recurrent AP were analyzed retrospectively， which was compared with the results of 258 patients with primary AP. The recurrence etiologies were analyzed. Results There were no significant differences on the fever， jaundice， abdominal pain relief time， pancreatic local complications， and ratio of severe AP between two groups （P＞0.05）. Comparion of etiologies between recurrent AP and primary AP， cholecystitis and diet factor （alcoholic） had priority in patients with primary AP （P=0.038， P=0.006， respectively）， but the hyperlipidemic， duodenal nipple disease， and small stone in the common bile duct were the major etiologies in patients with recurrent AP （P=0.007， P=0.008， respectively）. No relapse was found within the follow up for 3 months to 2 years （the average time was 14.2 months）. Conclusion Find out the exact etiology and performe correct therapy are the key to the treatment and prevention of recurrent AP.