Drug induced acute pancreatitis: incidence and severity.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Drug induced acute pancreatitis: incidence and severity.

Gut. 1995 Oct;37(4):565-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/96097888
Lankisch PG; Droge M; Gottesleben F; Department of Internal Medicine, Municipal Hospital of Luneburg,; Germany.

Abstract: To determine the incidence and severity of drug induced acute pancreatitis, data from 45 German centres of gastroenterology were evaluated. Among 1613 patients treated for acute pancreatitis in 1993, drug induced acute pancreatitis was diagnosed in 22 patients (incidence 1.4%). Drugs held responsible were azathioprine, mesalazine/sulfasalazine, 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI), oestrogens, frusemide, hydrochlorothiazide, and rifampicin. Pancreatic necrosis not exceeding 33% of the organ was found on ultrasonography or computed tomography, or both, in three patients (14%). Pancreatic pseudocysts did not occur. A decrease of arterial PO2 reflecting respiratory insufficiency, and an increase of serum creatinine, reflecting renal insufficiency as complications of acute pancreatitis were seen in two (9%) and four (18%) patients, respectively. Artificial ventilation was not needed, and dialysis was necessary in only one (5%) case. Two patients (9%) died of AIDS and tuberculosis, respectively; pancreatitis did not seem to have contributed materially to their death. In conclusion, drugs rarely cause acute pancreatitis, and drug induced acute pancreatitis usually runs a benign course.

Keywords: Acute Disease Adult Aged Aged, 80 and over Azathioprine/ADVERSE EFFECTS Didanosine/ADVERSE EFFECTS Estrogens/ADVERSE EFFECTS Female Furosemide/ADVERSE EFFECTS Germany/EPIDEMIOLOGY Human Hydrochlorothiazide/ADVERSE EFFECTS Incidence Length of Stay Male Middle Age Pancreatitis/*CHEMICALLY INDUCED/EPIDEMIOLOGY Rifampin/ADVERSE EFFECTS Sulfasalazine/ADVERSE EFFECTS JOURNAL ARTICLE MULTICENTER STUDY
960330
M9630708

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