Drug-induced pancreatitis. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2012;14:131-138. [PMID: 22314811 DOI: 10.1007/s11894-012-0245-9]

Diagnosis and Management of Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is increasing in incidence across the world, and in all age groups. Major changes in management have occurred in the last decade. Avoiding total parenteral nutrition and prophylactic antibiotics, avoiding overly aggressive fluid resuscitation, initiating early feeding, avoiding endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the absence of concomitant cholangitis, same-admission cholecystectomy, and minimally invasive approaches to infected necrosis should now be standard of care. Increasing recognition of the risk of recurrence of AP, and progression to chronic pancreatitis, along with the unexpectedly high risk of diabetes and exocrine insufficiency after AP is the subject of large ongoing studies. In this review, we provide an update on important changes in management for this increasingly common disease.

Acute pancreatitis associated with pembrolizumab-induced hypertriglyceridemia

INTRODUCTION

Acute pancreatitis (AP) following drug-induced hypertriglyceridemia is a rare clinical phenomenon. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized treatment for a variety of solid organ and hematological malignancies. Pembrolizumab is a programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitor that has shown promising responses in many advanced cancers. However, a constellation of immune-related adverse events has also been described. There are reports of pembrolizumab-induced hypertriglyceridemia, but AP as a result of this side effect remains an exceedingly rare clinical sequela.

CASE REPORT

We delineate a case of a patient with stage IVB non-small-cell lung cancer who developed progressive abdominal pain and nausea following administration of pembrolizumab for four months. Laboratory studies revealed increased serum lipase and triglyceride levels at 12,562 IU/L and 16,901 mg/dL, respectively. The diagnosis of AP was made based on the revised Atlanta classification criteria. After ruling out alternative causes, pembrolizumab-induced hypertriglyceridemia was considered the likely etiology of AP.

MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME

The patient was transferred to the medical intensive care unit for close monitoring. Treatment was initiated with intravenous fluids, pain medications, and an insulin infusion. However, her hypertriglyceridemia levels remained persistently elevated, necessitating therapeutic apheresis. She recovered well with no complications after triglyceride apheresis.

DISCUSSION

AP following pembrolizumab-associated hypertriglyceridemia remains a rare clinicopathologic entity. Given the widespread clinical use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, knowledge of such rare adverse events is crucial. Evaluation of serum triglyceride levels before and after initiating pembrolizumab therapy may be mandated, especially in patients with metabolic comorbidities.

Imaging of hepato-pancreato-biliary emergencies in patients with cancer

Hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) emergencies in patients with cancer encompass an extensive array of various conditions, including primary malignancies that require prompt treatment, associated severe complications, and life-threatening consequences arising from treatment. In patients with cancer, the liver can be affected by chemotherapy-induced hepatotoxicity, veno-occlusive disease, Budd-Chiari syndrome, liver hemorrhage, and other complications arising from cancer therapy with all these complications requiring timely diagnosis and prompt treament. Cholecystitis induced by systemic anticancer therapies can result in severe conquences if not promptly identified and treated. The application of immunotherapy in cancer therapy is associated with cholangitis. Hemobilia, often caused by medical interventions, may require arterial embolization in patients with severe bleeding and hemodynamic instability. Malignant biliary obstruction in patients with biliary cancers may necessitate palliative strategies such as biliary stenting. In pancreatic cancer, patients often miss surgical treatment due to advanced disease stages or distant metastases, leading to potential emergencies at different treatment phases. This comprehensive review underscores the complexities of diagnostic and treatment roles of medical imaging in managing HPB emergencies in patients with cancer. It illustrates the crucial role of imaging techniques, including magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography and ultrasound, in diagnosing and managing these conditions for timely intervention. It provides essential insights into the critical nature of early diagnosis and intervention in cancer-related HPB emergencies, ultimately impacting patient outcomes and survival rates.

Acute idiopathic pancreatitis is associated with more aggressive disease course in Crohn's disease but not in ulcerative colitis

PURPOSE

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), whether Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC), have an increased risk of acute pancreatitis. The prognostic value of diagnosing acute idiopathic pancreatitis in patients with IBD is not well understood.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 56 patients with IBD and acute pancreatitis was conducted in a tertiary center from 2011 to 2020. Aggressive disease course was defined as (i)biologic change, (ii)biologic dose escalation, or (iii)IBD-related surgeries occurring within 1 year of acute pancreatitis diagnosis. Logistic regression modelling identified associations between covariates and an aggressive disease course.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics between idiopathic pancreatitis and other causes of acute pancreatitis, in both CD and UC cohorts, were similar. Idiopathic pancreatitis was significantly associated with an aggressive disease course in CD (P = 0.04). No confounding factors were associated with an aggressive disease course in CD. Idiopathic pancreatitis, however, was not associated with an aggressive disease course in UC (P = 0.35).

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of acute idiopathic pancreatitis may provide a prognostic indicator of a more severe disease course in CD. No such association appears to exist with UC. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that identifies an association and possible prognostic value between idiopathic pancreatitis and a more severe disease course in CD. More studies with a larger sample size are needed to validate these findings, further define idiopathic pancreatitis as an extraintestinal manifestation of IBD and elucidate a clinical strategy to optimize care in patients with aggressive CD and idiopathic pancreatitis.

A Meta-analysis of the Severity of Acute Pancreatitis (AP) in COVID-19 Infection

Many studies have reported severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) affecting the gastrointestinal tract and causing gastritis, colitis, duodenitis and acute pancreatitis (AP). We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate if SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19 infection) affects the outcomes and severity of AP. We searched for articles in PubMed (MEDLINE), Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov databases and included studies comparing the outcomes of AP in patients with and without COVID-19. Our outcomes were the mean age of occurrence of AP, Charlson Comorbidity Index, incidence of idiopathic etiology of AP, severity of AP, incidence of necrotizing pancreatitis, need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and mortality between the two cohorts. We included five observational studies with a total population of 2,446 patients. Our results showed that in COVID-19 patients; AP had higher odds of having an idiopathic etiology (odds ratio, OR 3.14, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.36-7.27), be more severe (OR 3.26, 95% CI 1.47-7.49), had higher risk for pancreatic necrosis (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.62-3.55), require ICU admission (OR 4.28, 95% CI 2.88-6.37) and had higher mortality (OR 5.75, 95% CI 3.62-9.14) than in patients without COVID-19 infection. Our study concluded that SARS-CoV-2 infection does increase the morbidity and mortality associated with AP and further large-scale multi-center studies are needed to confirm these results.

Antipsychotic drugs and risk of acute pancreatitis: A nationwide case-control study

INTRODUCTION

Use of antipsychotic drugs, especially second-generation agents, has been suggested to cause acute pancreatitis in multiple case reports; however, such an association has not been corroborated by larger studies. This study examined the association of antipsychotic drugs with risk of acute pancreatitis.

METHODS

Nationwide case-control study, based on data from several Swedish registers and including all 52,006 cases of acute pancreatitis diagnosed in Sweden between 2006 and 2019 (with up to 10 controls per case; n = 518,081). Conditional logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) in current and past users of first-generation and second-generation antipsychotic drugs (dispensed prescription <91 and ≥91 days of the index date, respectively) compared with never users of such drugs.

RESULTS

In the crude model, first-generation and second-generation antipsychotic drugs were associated with increased risk of acute pancreatitis, with slightly higher ORs for past use (1.58 [95% confidence interval 1.48-1.69] and 1.39 [1.29-1.49], respectively) than for current use (1.34 [1.21-1.48] and 1.24 [1.15-1.34], respectively). The ORs were largely attenuated in the multivariable model-which included, among others, alcohol abuse and the Charlson comorbidity index-up to the point where only a statistically significant association remained for past use of first-generation agents (OR 1.18 [1.10-1.26]).

CONCLUSION

There was no clear association between use of antipsychotic drugs and risk of acute pancreatitis in this very large case-control study, indicating that previous case report data are most likely explained by confounding.

Drug-Induced Acute Pancreatitis in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a systemic disease that affects not only the respiratory system, but also other systems, including gastrointestinal. A great number of different drugs have been used on hospitalized patients for the management of COVID-19, and acute pancreatitis (AP) has been reported as a complication or side effect of these drugs. The development of drug-induced acute pancreatitis (DIAP) follows a complex of pathophysiological mechanisms, and particular risk factors play a key role. Diagnosis of DIAP depends on specific criteria, and based on these, a drug may be characterized as having a definite, probable or possible connection with AP. The aim of this review is to present the medications that are used for COVID-19 management and are associated with AP in hospitalized patients. The list of these drugs mainly includes corticosteroids, glucocorticoids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antiviral agents, antibiotics, monoclonal antibodies, estrogens and anesthetic agents. Moreover, the prevention of the development of DIAP is vital, especially for critically ill patients who may receive multiple drugs. DIAP management is mainly non-invasive and the first step concerns the exception of the suspicious drug from patients therapy.

Thiopurines impair the apical plasma membrane expression of CFTR in pancreatic ductal cells via RAC1 inhibition

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Thiopurine-induced acute pancreatitis (TIP) is one of the most common adverse events among inflammatory bowel disease patients treated with azathioprine (AZA), representing a significant clinical burden. Previous studies focused on immune-mediated processes, however, the exact pathomechanism of TIP is essentially unclear.

METHODS

To model TIP in vivo, we triggered cerulein-induced experimental pancreatitis in mice receiving a daily oral dose of 1.5 mg/kg AZA. Also, freshly isolated mouse pancreatic cells were exposed to AZA ex vivo, and acinar cell viability, ductal and acinar Ca²⁺ signaling, ductal Cl^- and HCO₃^- secretion, as well as cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) expression were assessed using microscopy techniques. Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate (RAC1) activity was measured with a G-LISA assay. Super-resolution microscopy was used to determine protein colocalization.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that AZA treatment increases tissue damage in the early phase of cerulein-induced pancreatitis in vivo. Also, both per os and ex vivo AZA exposure impaired pancreatic fluid and ductal HCO₃^- and Cl^- secretion, but did not affect acinar cells. Furthermore, ex vivo AZA exposure also inhibited RAC1 activity in ductal cells leading to decreased co-localization of CFTR and the anchor protein ezrin, resulting in impaired plasma membrane localization of CFTR.

CONCLUSIONS

AZA impaired the ductal HCO₃^- and Cl^- secretion through the inhibition of RAC1 activity leading to diminished ezrin-CFTR interaction and disturbed apical plasma membrane expression of CFTR. We report a novel direct toxic effect of AZA on pancreatic ductal cells and suggest that the restoration of ductal function might help to prevent TIP in the future.

Acute pancreatitis secondary to tamoxifen-associated hypertriglyceridemia: A clinical update

INTRODUCTION

Drug-induced pancreatitis has been increasingly recognized, but it is frequently encountered as an inconspicuous etiology. The underlying mechanisms of injury vary with different drugs. Tamoxifen is a frequently used anticancer drug that acts by selective modulation of the estrogen receptor in patients with breast cancer. Tamoxifen-induced hypertriglyceridemia is a relatively rare etiological factor for acute pancreatitis. However, acute pancreatitis secondary to this adverse effect remains an exceedingly important clinicopathologic entity.

CASE REPORT

We hereby delineate a rare case of acute pancreatitis secondary to hypertriglyceridemia in a patient who was on tamoxifen treatment for the past 3 years. Her serum lipase and triglyceride levels were markedly elevated at 14,285 IU/L and 20,344 mg/dL, respectively. The diagnosis was considered based on the findings of a standard diagnostic workup and exclusion of alternative causes of acute pancreatitis.

MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME

The patient was instituted prompt treatment with intravenous insulin infusion and gemfibrozil. The clinical outcome was favorable with no complications. Tamoxifen was permanently discontinued and was replaced with letrozole.

DISCUSSION

This article illustrates that acute pancreatitis should be considered in the differential diagnoses of abdominal pain and elevated pancreatic enzymes in patients undergoing tamoxifen treatment. It also underscores the importance of pre- and post-tamoxifen lipid screening, especially in patients with a history of dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus. It will facilitate an expedient detection of hypertriglyceridemia, potentially saving patients from associated morbidity and mortality.

The Pancreas and Known Factors of Acute Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is regarded by clinicians as one of the most complicated and clinically challenging of all disorders affecting the abdomen. It is classified on the basis of clinical, morphological, and histological criteria. Causes of acute pancreatitis can easily be identified in 75–85% of patients. The main causes of acute, recurrent acute, and chronic pancreatitis are gallstone migration and alcohol abuse. Other causes are uncommon, controversial, or unexplained. For instance, cofactors of all forms of pancreatitis are pancreas divisum and hypertriglyceridemia. Another factor that should be considered is a complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography acute pancreatitis. The aim of this study is to present the known risk factors for acute pancreatitis, beginning with an account of the morphology, physiology, and development of the pancreas.

Stocky/Packed Pancreas: A Case of Focal Drug-Induced Acute Pancreatitis Mimicking Cancer

Drug-induced acute pancreatitis (DIP) is a recognised but underreported entity in the literature. Immunotherapy drugs have been described as one possible emerging cause, although the pathogenic mechanism is still largely unclear. To date, only a few cases have been reported, even if in recent times there is an over-increasing awareness of this pathologic entity. The imaging-based diagnosis of DIP can be difficult to establish, representing a real challenge for a radiologist, especially when the inflammatory disease appears as a focal mass suspicious for a malignancy. Case report: We herein report the case of a 71-year-old man with a known history of partially responsive lung adenocarcinoma subtype with high programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, who underwent positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging follow-up after one year of immunotherapy. The exam revealed a stocky/packed lesion in the pancreatic body, with increased 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) accumulation highly suggestive of pancreatic cancer, which finally was proven to be a DIP induced by immunotherapy. Conclusion: Distinguishing between focal DIP and pancreatic neoplasm is, therefore, crucial for timely therapeutic management and prognostic stratification. A deep knowledge of possible imaging pitfalls coupled with a comprehensive clinical and laboratory assessment is pivotal to avoid any delays in diagnosis.

The Effect of Chemotherapy Induction Therapy on the Pancreas in Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Background

The effect of chemotherapy induction on the pancreatic in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia is not described in Ethiopia. The study determined the chemotherapy drug-induced pancreatitis in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Method

A preexperimental study (pretest and posttests) was conducted in forty patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. For some skewed data, a log transformation was computed. The back transformation was then calculated. Descriptive statistics and a mixed-model ANOVA were used to analyze the data. A post hoc Bonferroni test was used. A p value < 0.05 was declared statistically significant.

Results

In this study, no clinically significant acute pancreatitis occurred. Elevated amylase and lipase levels, indicating grade 2 acute pancreatitis, were observed in 25% and 17.5% of patients, respectively. Amylase enzyme levels in children differed significantly from preinduction to the second week of induction (p = 0.001) and fourth week of induction (p = 0.001), as well as between the second and fourth weeks of induction (p = 0.033), but adults' amylase enzyme levels did not differ significantly (p = 0.2). Lipase levels in adults are nearly identical in all three measures, implying that there is no statistically significant difference (p = 0.775). However, the level of lipase enzyme in children was significantly higher from baseline to two and four weeks of induction (p = 0.007) but not between two and four weeks of induction (p = 0.129).

Conclusion

Clinically significant acute pancreatitis did not occur, but patients experienced mild (grade 2) acute pancreatitis. Amylase and lipase enzymes responded significantly to chemotherapy induction in children. Chemotherapy drugs should be given without altering pancreatic enzymes, specifically in children.

Investigation of the potential association between the use of fluoxetine and occurrence of acute pancreatitis: a Danish register-based cohort study

Background

There is currently conflicting evidence of the association between the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and acute pancreatitis. The SSRI fluoxetine has been suspected to be the driver of this serious outcome. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the potential association between fluoxetine use and the occurrence of acute pancreatitis.

Methods

We conducted a nationwide cohort study using Danish register-based data from 1996 to 2016. The exposed group were new users of fluoxetine (1-year washout). The control subjects were new users of citalopram or SSRIs, excluding fluoxetine. The outcome was an incident diagnosis of acute pancreatitis with a 5-year washout. We used an intention-to-treat approach following patients for a maximum of 6 months. Cox regression analyses were performed, estimating hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusted for age/sex, comorbidities and co-medications, using propensity score adjustment and matching.

Results

In the propensity score-matched analyses, 61 783 fluoxetine users were included. The incidence rates among users of fluoxetine and other SSRIs were 5.33 (3.05–8.66) and 5.36 (3.06–8.70) per 10 000 person-years, respectively. No increased risk of acute pancreatitis was identified following fluoxetine exposure compared with either citalopram [HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.50–2.00) or other SSRIs (0.76, 0.40–1.46).

Conclusions

Fluoxetine use was not associated with an increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared with citalopram or other SSRIs. The absolute risk of acute pancreatitis was low and did not vary between different SSRIs. Further research is needed to determine whether there is a class effect on the risk of acute pancreatitis.

Drug-induced acute pancreatitis in a bodybuilder: a case report

Background

Unregulated use of a variety of drugs and supplements by bodybuilders and athletes is common and can lead to severe adverse complications. Only a small proportion of acute pancreatitis cases are drug induced, and case reports are essential for identifying potential drug-related risks for pancreatitis. Here we present the first case report published of acute pancreatitis linked to recreational use of anabolic–androgenic steroids, subcutaneous growth hormone, and clenbuterol in a previously healthy male after excluding all other causes of pancreatitis.

Case presentation

A 31-year-old Arab male bodybuilder presented with acute abdominal pain associated with nausea and sharp pain radiating to the back. The patient was not using tobacco or alcohol but was using multiple drugs related to bodybuilding, including anabolic–androgenic steroids, subcutaneous growth hormone, clenbuterol, and multiple vitamin supplements. Laboratory studies revealed a normal white blood cell count, elevated C-reactive protein, minimally elevated aspartate aminotransferase and total bilirubin with normal remaining liver tests, and elevated amylase and lipase. The patient had no hypertriglyceridemia or hypercalcemia, and had had no recent infections, abdominal procedures, trauma, or scorpion exposure. Imaging and laboratory investigations were negative for biliary disease and IgG4 disease. Abdominal computed tomography revealed hepatomegaly and diffuse thickening and edema of the body and tail of the pancreas with peripancreatic fat stranding. An abdominal ultrasound showed slight hepatomegaly with no evidence of cholelithiasis. Genetic testing for hereditary pancreatitis-related mutations was negative. A diagnosis of drug-induced acute pancreatitis was made, and he was treated with aggressive intravenous hydration and pain management. The patient has avoided further use of these drugs and supplements and had no further episodes of pancreatitis during 1 year of follow-up.

Conclusions

This case describes a patient with drug-induced acute pancreatitis after the intake of anabolic–androgenic steroids, subcutaneous growth hormone, and clenbuterol, where all other common causes of acute pancreatitis were excluded. Clinicians should be alert to the possibility of drug-induced acute pancreatitis occurring in bodybuilders and athletes using similar drug combinations.

Finding Predictors of Azathioprine-Induced Pancreatitis in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

OBJECTIVES

Azathioprine (AZA)-induced pancreatitis (AIP) is a common, idiosyncratic adverse effect whose incidence and risk factors data in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients are not fully clarified. We aimed to establish the incidence, clinical course and identify risk factors for AIP.

METHODS

A retrospective study including all IBD patients on AZA between January 2013 and July 2020 was conducted. Patients with AIP were considered.

RESULTS

Azathioprine-induced pancreatitis occurred in 33 patients (7.5%; 442 patients on AZA). The mean time receiving AZA until AIP was 25 days, with a mean dose of 88 mg. All patients had a mild course of disease, which resolved with suspension of AZA and with no complications. Smoking (P = 0.02), single daily dose of AZA (P < 0.001), and concomitant budesonide (P = 0.001) were risk factors for AIP. In multivariate analysis, concomitant treatment with budesonide (odds ratio, 5.3; P = 0.002) and single daily dose of AZA (odds ratio, 3.8; P = 0.002) were the only predictors of AIP.

CONCLUSIONS

Although AIP was a relatively common adverse effect, it presented a mild course in all patients. Smoking, concomitant use of budesonide, and single-dose regimen of AZA should be avoided in IBD patients treated with AZA.

Insights into Acute Pancreatitis Associated COVID-19: Literature Review

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) primarily affects the lungs, causing respiratory symptoms. However, the infection clearly affects all organ systems including the gastrointestinal system. Acute pancreatitis associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been widely reported Recent studies have discussed pancreatic compromise incidentally in asymptomatic patients, or in a form of clinical symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting, which is further reflected in some cases with abnormal serum lipase and amylase levels It was suggested that upregulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme II cell receptors or inflammatory cytokines play a major role in predisposing pancreatic injury in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients To date, there is insufficient data to establish the causality of acute pancreatitis in SARS-CoV-2 infected cases. In this paper, we organize recent studies conducted to observe the frequency of acute pancreatitis associated with COVID-19 cases while highlighting present hypotheses, predisposing factors, and their effect on the outcome, and point to gaps in our knowledge.

Pazopanib-Induced Asymptomatic Necrotizing Pancreatitis Diagnosed on 18F-FDG PET-CT Scan

Multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) pazopanib approved for the treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS) has prolonged the estimated survival times and quality of life of patients. However, several adverse effects associated predominantly with the inhibition of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor by these drugs may prove to be potentially life-threatening. One such rare adverse event with the use of pazopanib is acute pancreatitis. We present a case of asymptomatic necrotizing pancreatitis induced by pazopanib treatment for metastatic STS detected on 18F-FDG PET-CT imaging.

Acute pancreatitis associated with multibacillary polychemotherapy for leprosy

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disease associated with abdominal pain and elevated serum pancreatic enzymes. The most common etiologies are gallstones and alcoholism. Drug-induced AP is quite rare, lacks a solid understanding and has been occasionally reported. The diagnosis requires a great suspicion and a careful exclusion of other causes. We present a case of a 37-year-old man, previously diagnosed with leprosy that developed acute pancreatitis after starting the multibacillary polychemotherapy (PCT/MB). After a month of treatment and the discontinuation of the PCT/MB, the therapy was restarted and a new episode of AP occurred. Three months after this last episode, the PCT/MB was reintroduced, changing one of the medications and the patient had no recurrence of AP or other reactions. Therefore, it is important to take into account that there is a risk of acute pancreatitis in patients on multidrug therapy (MDT) for leprosy.

Quantifying the Risk of Drug-Induced Pancreatitis With Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Statins Using a Large Electronic Medical Record Database

OBJECTIVES

Quantify the risk of drug-induced pancreatitis (DIP) from angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEis) and 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins).

METHODS

Retrospective cohort analysis using IBM Explorys (1999-2019), a pooled, deidentified clinical database of more than 63 million patients across the United States. Odds ratios were calculated to determine the risk of DIP from ACEi, statins, and both medications together. χ2 testing assessed the relationship between age, sex, ethnicity, insurance status, and mortality among patients with DIP from ACEi, statins, or both combined.

RESULTS

Acute pancreatitis (AP) was found in 280,740 patients. Odds ratios for ACEi, statins, and both combined were 6.12, 4.97, and 5.72, respectively. Thirty-eight percent of all-cause AP occurs in adults older than 65 years. Acute pancreatitis from ACEi and statins occurs in 49% and 56% of patients older than 65 years, respectively. Men and patients older than 65 years are at higher risk of DIP from ACEi and statins. Patients on Medicaid are at higher risk of DIP from statins, and Asian patients are at highest risk of DIP from ACEi.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that ACEi and statins increase the odds of DIP. Although ACEis and statins are critical medications for many patients, clinicians should consider using alternatives in patients with AP of unclear etiology.

Severe necrotizing pancreatitis immediately after non-abdominal surgery under general anesthesia with propofol

Postoperative pancreatitis is a relatively rare disease and is poorly recognized. Herein, we present a case of necrotizing pancreatitis that developed immediately after non-abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. In this report, 4 h after thyroidectomy under general anesthesia using propofol, the patient developed upper abdominal pain and was diagnosed with severe acute pancreatitis with extensive pancreatic necrosis. Immediately after the diagnosis, the patient received appropriate treatment, and acute pancreatitis was improved. Subsequently, the patient has the formation of non-infectious giant walled-off necrosis and remained in good condition without additional treatment for 1.5 years after pancreatitis onset. In this case report, our detailed causative search suggested that propofol administration could be the cause of this pancreatitis. Propofol-induced pancreatitis is extremely rare but develops often severely, resulting in fatality. In this case, the patient developed severe acute pancreatitis within a very short time after surgery but was able to survive by immediate intervention of treatment. We suggest that clinicians should consider acute pancreatitis as a life-threatening adverse event under general anesthesia with propofol and perform thorough postoperative management.

Comprehensive Mechanism, Novel Markers and Multidisciplinary Treatment of Severe Acute Pancreatitis-Associated Cardiac Injury - A Narrative Review

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the common acute abdominal inflammatory diseases in clinic with acute onset and rapid progress. About 20% of the patients will eventually develop into severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) characterized by a large number of inflammatory cells infiltration, gland flocculus flaky necrosis and hemorrhage, finally inducing systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Pancreatic enzyme activation, intestinal endotoxemia (IETM), cytokine activation, microcirculation disturbance, autonomic nerve dysfunction and autophagy dysregulation all play an essential role in the occurrence and progression of SAP. Organ dysfunction is the main cause of early death in SAP. Acute kidney injury (AKI) and acute lung injury (ALI) are common, while cardiac injury (CI) is not, but the case fatality risk is high. Many basic studies have observed obvious ultrastructure change of heart in SAP, including myocardial edema, cardiac hypertrophy, myocardial interstitial collagen deposition. Moreover, in clinical practice, patients with SAP often presented various abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) and cardiac function. Cases complicated with acute myocardial infarction and pericardial tamponade have also been reported and even result in stress cardiomyopathy. Due to the molecular mechanisms underlying SAP-associated cardiac injury (SACI) remain poorly understood, and there is no complete, unified treatment and sovereign remedy at present, this article reviews reports referring to the pathogenesis, potential markers and treatment methods of SACI in recent years, in order to improve the understanding of cardiac injury in severe pancreatitis.

Individualized Prediction of Acute Pancreatitis Recurrence Using a Nomogram

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to develop and validate a model, based on the blood biochemical (BBC) indexes, to predict the recurrence of acute pancreatitis patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled 923 acute pancreatitis patients (586 in the primary cohort and 337 in the validation cohort) from January 2014 to December 2016. Aiming for an extreme imbalance between recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) and non-RAP patients (about 1:4), we designed BBC index selection using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, along with an ensemble-learning strategy to obtain a BBC signature. Multivariable logistic regression was used to build the RAP predictive model.

RESULTS

The BBC signature, consisting of 35 selected BBC indexes, was significantly higher in patients with RAP (P < 0.001). The area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve of BBC signature model was 0.6534 in the primary cohort and 0.7173 in the validation cohort. The RAP predictive nomogram incorporating the BBC signature, age, hypertension, and diabetes showed better discrimination, with an area under the curve of 0.6538 in the primary cohort and 0.7212 in the validation cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study developed a RAP predictive nomogram with good performance, which could be conveniently and efficiently used to optimize individualized prediction of RAP.

Clinical course and outcome among patients with acute pancreatitis and COVID-19

BACKGROUND

The data on clinical course and outcome of acute pancreatitis among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are sparse. In this study, we analyzed the clinical profiles of patients with COVID 19 and acute pancreatitis.

METHODS

This retrospective study was conducted on Research Patient Data Registry data which was pooled from five Mass General Brigham Healthcare Network hospitals. We extracted data on demographics, symptoms, ICU transfer, mechanical ventilation, laboratories' profiles, imaging findings, and patient outcomes.

RESULT

Of 985 screened adult patients, 17 were eligible for the study, 9 (52.9%) were admitted primarily for respiratory failure and developed acute pancreatitis after a median of 22.5 days (13-76 days) from the onset of COVID-19 symptoms. On contrary, eight patients presented with typical symptoms and were diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, the majority with mild severity (62.5%) on admission. Patients who were admitted primarily with severe COVID-19 illness were younger (median age 57 vs. 63 years), females (55.6 vs. 25%), of Hispanic ethnicity (55.6 vs. 25%), and obese (88.9 vs. 37.5%). The median peak lipase, C reactive protein, ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase, D-dimer were higher among patients who developed acute pancreatitis later during hospitalization. Patients who developed acute pancreatitis later also experienced higher episodes of necrotizing pancreatitis (11.1% vs. 0), thromboembolic complications (55.6 vs. 12.5%), and higher mortality (37.5 vs. 12.5%).

CONCLUSION

Acute pancreatitis is not common among patients with COVID-19. Patients with COVID-19 who had acute pancreatitis on admission had more benign course and overall better outcome as compared to the patients who developed acute pancreatitis during hospitalization.

Isoliquiritigenin ameliorates doxorubicin-induced acute pancreatitis by inhibiting ROS production via modulation of Nrf2/HO-1 oxidative stress pathway

BACKGROUND

Several case studies have reported that doxorubicin (DOX) could induce acute pancreatitis, but no animal experiments have confirmed such side effect of DOX, and there is no specific treatment. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) has a variety of pharmacological functions, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities; however, the role and mechanism of ISL on DOX-induced acute pancreatitis (DAP) remain unclear.

AIM

To confirm whether doxorubicin (DOX) results in pancreatic tissue injury, and to determine the role and mechanism of isoliquiritigenin (ISL) in protecting against DOX-induced pancreatitis.

METHODS

Male ICR mice (25-30 g) were randomly divided into a control group (intraperitoneal injection of normal saline), DOX-DAP model group (intraperitoneal injection of DOX 10 mg/kg every other day), and ISL treatment group (DOX + ISL group; intraperitoneal injection of DOX 10 mg/kg every other day and intragastric administration of ISL 100 mg/kg per day), with 8 mice in each group. Pancreatic histopathology and scoring were performed 5 d after modeling. The expression of alpha amylase in pancreatic tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry. Immunofluorescence assay was used to detect ROS production in pancreatic tissue. Protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 in pancreatic tissue was detected by Western blot.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the mice in the DOX-DAP model group showed characteristic pathological damage, such as pancreatic tissue edema and inflammatory cells infiltration, with significantly increased histopathological scores (P < 0.001) and decreased expression of alpha amylase in the pancreas (P < 0.01). Compared with the DOX-DAP model group, the DOX + ISL group had significantly decreased histopathological scores (P < 0.05) and increased expression of alpha amylase in the pancreas (P < 0.05). ROS fluorescence staining and Western blot analysis showed that compared with the control group, ROS generation in pancreatic tissue in the DOX-DAP model group was significantly increased (P < 0.001), and the expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins were slightly increased (P < 0.001). Compared with the DOX-DAP group, the DOX + ISL group had significantly decreased ROS levels in pancreatic tissuesed (P < 0.001), and significantly increased expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

DOX can cause pancreatic pathological damage in mice, which is mainly characterized by pancreatic tissue edema and inflammatory cells infiltration. ISL administration has a protective effect on DOX-induced pancreatitis by enhancing the antioxidant stress level in pancreatic tissue, which is expected to provide a new method for the prevention and treatment of drug-induced pancreatitis.

Secondary ARDS Following Acute Pancreatitis: Is Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Feasible or Futile?

OBJECTIVE

To assess the feasibility of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or life support (ECLS) as last resort life support therapy in patients with acute pancreatitis and subsequent secondary acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

METHODS

Retrospective analysis from January 2013, to April 2020, of ECMO patients with pancreatitis-induced ARDS at a German University Hospital. Demographics, hospital and ICU length of stay, duration of ECMO therapy, days on mechanical ventilation, fluid balance, need for decompressive laparotomy, amount of blood products, prognostic scores (CCI (Charlson Comorbidity Index), SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment), RESP(Respiratory ECMO Survival Prediction), SAVE (Survival after Veno-Arterial ECMO)), and the total known length of survival were assessed.

RESULTS

A total of n = 495 patients underwent ECMO. Eight patients with acute pancreatitis received ECLS (seven veno-venous, one veno-arterial). Five (71%) required decompressive laparotomy as salvage therapy due to abdominal hypertension. Two patients with acute pancreatitis (25%) survived to hospital discharge. The overall median length of survival was 22 days. Survivors required less fluid in the first 72 h of ECMO support and showed lower values for all prognostic scores.

CONCLUSION

ECLS can be performed as a rescue therapy in patients with pancreatitis and secondary ARDS, but nevertheless mortality remains still high. Thus, this last-resort therapy may be best suited for patients with fewer pre-existing comorbidities and no other organ failure.

Acute Pancreatitis: A Review

IMPORTANCE

In the United States, acute pancreatitis is one of the leading causes of hospital admission from gastrointestinal diseases, with approximately 300 000 emergency department visits each year. Outcomes from acute pancreatitis are influenced by risk stratification, fluid and nutritional management, and follow-up care and risk-reduction strategies, which are the subject of this review.

OBSERVATIONS

MEDLINE was searched via PubMed as was the Cochrane databases for English-language studies published between January 2009 and August 2020 for current recommendations for predictive scoring tools, fluid management and nutrition, and follow-up and risk-reduction strategies for acute pancreatitis. Several scoring systems, such as the Bedside Index of Severity in Acute Pancreatitis (BISAP) and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II tools, have good predictive capabilities for disease severity (mild, moderately severe, and severe per the revised Atlanta classification) and mortality, but no one tool works well for all forms of acute pancreatitis. Early and aggressive fluid resuscitation and early enteral nutrition are associated with lower rates of mortality and infectious complications, yet the optimal type and rate of fluid resuscitation have yet to be determined. The underlying etiology of acute pancreatitis should be sought in all patients, and risk-reduction strategies, such as cholecystectomy and alcohol cessation counseling, should be used during and after hospitalization for acute pancreatitis.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Acute pancreatitis is a complex disease that varies in severity and course. Prompt diagnosis and stratification of severity influence proper management. Scoring systems are useful adjuncts but should not supersede clinical judgment. Fluid management and nutrition are very important aspects of care for acute pancreatitis.

Pancreatic safety of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

This study aimed to systematically evaluate the association between sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and pancreatic safety in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

Electronic databases were searched before September 2019 to include randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of SGLT2 inhibitors that reported any event on pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer among patients with T2DM. Peto odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to pool the data. The GRADE framework was introduced to assess the quality of evidence.

RESULTS

Of the 35 trials involving 44 912 patients with T2DM included, 41 events of acute pancreatitis (19 trials; 32 932 patients), 72 events of overall pancreatitis (including acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, or nonspecific pancreatitis; 26 trials; 36 688 patients), and 40 events of pancreatic cancer (18 trials; 27 806 patients) were reported during a median follow-up of 52 weeks. SGLT2 inhibitors were not associated with an increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to controls (placebo or other active drugs; Peto OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.60-2.13; moderate quality evidence). A similar result was found for risk of overall pancreatitis (Peto OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.67-1.75; moderate quality evidence) and pancreatic cancer (Peto OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.71-2.54; very low-quality evidence).

CONCLUSIONS

Moderate quality evidence from RCTs shows no significantly increased risk of acute pancreatitis associated with SGLT2 inhibitors, while there is very low-quality evidence suggesting no significant association between SGLT2 inhibitors and pancreatic cancer among patients with T2DM.

Recent progress in the use of microRNAs as biomarkers for drug-induced toxicities in contrast to traditional biomarkers: A comparative review

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs with 18-25 nucleotides. They play key regulatory roles in versatile biological process including development and apoptosis, and in disease pathogenesis, for example carcinogenesis, by negatively regulating gene expression. miRNAs often exhibit characteristics suitable for biomarkers such as tissue-specific expression patterns, high stability in serum/plasma, and change in abundance in circulation immediately after toxic injury. Since the discovery of circulating miRNAs in extracellular biological fluids in 2008, there have been many reports on the use of miRNAs as biomarkers for various diseases including cancer and organ injury in humans and experimental animals. In this review article, we have summarized the utility and limitation of circulating miRNAs as safety/toxicology biomarkers for specific tissue injuries including liver, skeletal muscle, heart, retina, and pancreas, by comparing them with conventional protein biomarkers. We have also covered the discovery of miRNAs in serum/plasma and their stability, the knowledge of which is essential for understanding the kinetics of miRNA biomarkers. Since numerous studies have reported the use of these circulating miRNAs as safety biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity, we believe that circulating miRNAs can promote pre-clinical drug development and improve the monitoring of tissue injuries in clinical pharmacotherapy.

Serious adverse events with novel beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations: a large-scale pharmacovigilance analysis

The purpose of this study is to characterize adverse events (AEs) of clinical interest reported with ceftolozane-tazobactam and ceftazidime-avibactam, as an aid in monitoring patients affected by severe multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections. We queried the worldwide FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and performed disproportionality analysis, selecting only designated medical events (DMEs) where ceftolozane-tazobactam and ceftazidime-avibactam were reported as suspect. Serious neurological AEs were further investigated. The reporting odds ratios were calculated, deemed significant by the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval (LL95% CI) > 1. All other drugs/events recorded in FAERS and cephalosporins showing clinical evidence of neurological AEs were respectively selected as comparator for analysis of DMEs and neurotoxicity. Qualitative analysis including case-by-case assessment and deduplication was also performed. Overall, 654 and 506 reports mentioning respectively ceftolozane-tazobactam and ceftazidime-avibactam were found, with DMEs accounting respectively for 13.1% and 10.9% of cases. Agranulocytosis (N = 12; LL95% CI = 12.40) and pancytopenia (14; 6.18) emerged as unexpected AEs with ceftolozane-tazobactam, while acute pancreatitis (7; 8.63) was an over-reported unexpected DME with ceftazidime-avibactam. After deduplication, four unequivocally different cases of agranulocytosis with ceftolozane-tazobactam were retained, occurring on average after 8.8 days. Causality was probable and possible respectively in three and one case. Among neurological AEs exhibiting significant disproportionality, encephalopathy with both antibiotics and mental status changes with ceftazidime-avibactam were retained in at least three cases after deduplication. Although rare, clinicians should monitor high-risk patients (i.e. individuals affected by haematological malignances, HIV infection, or treated with concomitant myelotoxic agents) for early unexpected occurrence of agranulocytosis with ceftolozane-tazobactam.

Outcomes of drug-induced acute pancreatitis: a ten-year experience of an academic center

BACKGROUND

drug-induced pancreatitis is an unexplored entity.

METHODS

a retrospective cohort study was performed at a referral center. Patients with drug-induced acute pancreatitis between 2008 and 2018 were included. Baseline patient characteristics, involved drugs, clinical course and recurrence were analyzed.

RESULTS

drug-induced pancreatitis represented 2.8 % of acute pancreatitis (47/1,665) and 18 different drugs were involved (thiopurines 61.8 %). The latency period was less than one month in 87.2 % of cases. Pancreatitis was mild in 89.3 % and recurrence risk was 2.3 %.

CONCLUSION

drugs are a rare cause of pancreatitis, which mostly occurs within the first month of treatment, is usually mild and is associated with a low risk of recurrence.

Methimazole Treatment and Risk of Acute Pancreatitis: A Population-based Cohort Study

CONTEXT

A warning has been recently issued by the European Medicine Agency (EMA) regarding a potential increased risk of acute pancreatitis (AP) in methimazole (MMI) users.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between MMI and the diagnosis of AP in a population-based study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of administrative health databases was conducted (2013-2018). Relevant data were obtained from: (1) inhabitants registry, (2) hospital discharge records (ICD-9-CM 577.0), and (3) drug claims registry (ATC H03BB02). We evaluated AP risk in MMI users in 18 months of treatment, stratifying results by trimester. Poisson regression was used to estimate the age- and sex-adjusted rate ratios (RR), and the relative 95% confidence intervals (CI), comparing rates of AP between MMI users and nonusers. The absolute risk of AP in MMI users was also calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 23 087 new users of MMI were identified. Among them, 61 hospitalizations occurred during the study period. An increase in AP risk was evident during the first 3 trimesters of therapy (RR 3.40 [95% CI: 2.12-5.48]; RR 2.40 [95% CI: 1.36-4.23]; RR 2.80 [95% CI: 1.66-4.73]), but disappeared thereafter. The AP absolute risk in MMI users during the first 18 months of treatment was less than 0.4% in all sex and age classes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results support the EMA warning, suggesting an increased risk of AP associated with MMI use. However, such an increase seems limited to the first months of MMI treatment. Moreover, in absolute terms, the probability of AP is low among patients, well below 1%.

Insufficient etiological workup of COVID-19-associated acute pancreatitis: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, mostly causing respiratory symptoms, is also known to affect the gastrointestinal tract. Several case reports hypothesize that SARS-CoV-2 could be an etiological factor in acute pancreatitis (AP).

AIM

To assess all the available evidence in the literature relating to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and AP.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of the available literature on the topic. The systematic search was conducted on 15 May 2020 on MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Web of Science and Scopus with a search key using the terms “amylase,” “lipase,” “pancr*,” “COVID-19” and synonyms. Due to the low quality and poor comparability of the studies, a meta-analysis was not performed.

RESULTS

Six case reports and two retrospective cohorts were included, containing data on eleven COVID-19 patients with AP. Five patients had AP according to the Atlanta classification. Other publications did not provide sufficient information on the diagnostic criteria. Most cases were considered SARS-CoV-2-induced, while several established etiological factors were not investigated. We were able to identify other possible causes in most of them.

CONCLUSION

We strongly highlight the need for adherence to the guidelines during a diagnostic and etiological workup, which could alter therapy.

Role of endoscopic ultrasonography in the diagnostic work-up of idiopathic acute pancreatitis (PICUS): study protocol for a nationwide prospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Idiopathic acute pancreatitis (IAP) remains a dilemma for physicians as it is uncertain whether patients with IAP may actually have an occult aetiology. It is unclear to what extent additional diagnostic modalities such as endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) are warranted after a first episode of IAP in order to uncover this aetiology. Failure to timely determine treatable aetiologies delays appropriate treatment and might subsequently cause recurrence of acute pancreatitis. Therefore, the aim of the Pancreatitis of Idiopathic origin: Clinical added value of endoscopic UltraSonography (PICUS) Study is to determine the value of routine EUS in determining the aetiology of pancreatitis in patients with a first episode of IAP.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

PICUS is designed as a multicentre prospective cohort study of 106 patients with a first episode of IAP after complete standard diagnostic work-up, in whom a diagnostic EUS will be performed. Standard diagnostic work-up will include a complete personal and family history, laboratory tests including serum alanine aminotransferase, calcium and triglyceride levels and imaging by transabdominal ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography after clinical recovery from the acute pancreatitis episode. The primary outcome measure is detection of aetiology by EUS. Secondary outcome measures include pancreatitis recurrence rate, severity of recurrent pancreatitis, readmission, additional interventions, complications, length of hospital stay, quality of life, mortality and costs, during a follow-up period of 12 months.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

PICUS is conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki and Guideline for Good Clinical Practice. Five medical ethics review committees assessed PICUS (Medical Ethics Review Committee of Academic Medical Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Radboud University Medical Center, Erasmus Medical Center and Maastricht University Medical Center). The results will be submitted for publication in an international peer-reviewed journal.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Netherlands Trial Registry (NL7066). Prospectively registered.

Cocaine-Induced Acute Pancreatitis: A Rare Etiology

An 18-year-old male with a medical history of trigeminal neuralgia presented to the emergency department with complaints of severe abdominal pain associated with nausea, projectile vomiting, and watery diarrhea with no fever, rigors, and chills. The abdominal examination was unremarkable. His lab results showed elevated serum lipase and amylase. Gallstones were ruled out by abdominal ultrasonography. His computed tomography (CT) revealed pancreatic enlargement with ill-defined borders. He reported cocaine use but had no history of alcohol abuse. A urine drug screen was positive for cocaine. He was managed conservatively with a possible diagnosis of acute pancreatitis due to cocaine abuse after carefully ruling out other causes. The patient was symptom-free on day 7 and discharged from hospital on day 8 with follow-up with his gastroenterology doctor and drug counseling service. Although cocaine-induced pancreatitis is rare, it should be considered a differential diagnosis in patients with a history of cocaine use.

A single-center analysis of primary nephrotic syndrome with acute pancreatitis in children

Primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS) is one of the most common primary glomerular diseases in children. Patients complicated nephrotic syndrome with pancreatic lesions are rarely reported, and the clinical manifestations in children are atypical. This study has observed the incidence, clinical types, and prognosis of acute pancreatitis (AP) in children with primary nephrotic syndrome, and analyzed its related factors, early diagnosis, and treatment.Seven children with PNS and AP in Shanghai Children's Hospital from January 2015 to December 2017 were reviewed. The clinical data including age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), diet, biliary tract disease, PNS durations, drugs, proteinuria, creatinine, glucose, glycated hemoglobin, amylase and lipase, albumin, cholesterol, triglyceride, ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT), renal pathology and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were followed for >2 years.Ten in 589 patients with PNS were detected pancreatic lesions by abdominal ultrasound. Seven were diagnosed as AP, which the incidence was 1.2%. Only 1 of 7 patients had elevated serum amylase. Lesions of pancreas were found by ultrasound and/or enhanced CT. Four of 7 patients had been treated with tacrolimus. All patients with AP were improved after octreotide acetate injection and supportive treatment. Only 1 patient suffered recurrent AP during the relapse of PNS 10 months later.AP in children with PNS is not common, and the clinical manifestations are not typical. Abdominal ultrasound and enhanced CT are of high value in diagnosis. The adverse effects of tacrolimus should be concerned. Early diagnosis and timely treatment can be helpful for a prognosis.

Ever-increasing diversity of drug-induced pancreatitis

With over 100000 hospital admissions per annum, acute pancreatitis remains the leading gastrointestinal cause of hospitalization in the United States and has far-reaching impact well beyond. It has become increasingly recognized that drug-induced pancreatitis (DIP), despite accounting for less than 3% of all cases, represents an important and growing though often inconspicuous cause of acute pancreatitis. Nevertheless, knowledge of DIP is often curtailed by the limited availability of evidence needed to implicate given agents, especially for non-prescription medications. Indeed, the majority of available data is derived from case reports, case series, or case control studies. Furthermore, the mechanism of injury and causality for many of these drugs remain elusive as a definitive correlation is generally not established (< 10% of cases). Several classification systems have been proposed, but no single system has been widely adopted, and periodic updates are required in light of ongoing pharmacologic expansion. Moreover, infrequently prescribed medications or those available over-the-counter (including herbal and other alternative remedies) are often overlooked as a potential culprit of acute pancreatitis. Herein, we review the ever-increasing diversity of DIP and the potential mechanisms of injury with the goal of raising awareness regarding the nature and magnitude of this entity. We believe this manuscript will aid in increasing both primary and secondary prevention of DIP, thus ultimately facilitating more expedient diagnosis and a decrease in DIP-related morbidity.

Current status of diagnosis and Mesenchymal stem cells therapy for acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an acute gastrointestinal disorder that is the most common and requiring emergency hospitalization. Its incidence is increasing worldwide, thus increasing the burden of medical services. Approximately 20% of the patients develop moderate to severe necrotizing pancreatitis associated with pancreatic or peri-pancreatic tissue necrosis and multiple organ failure. There are many reports about the anti-inflammatory effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on pancreatitis and the repair of tissue damage. MSCs cells come from a wide range of sources, autologous MSCs come from bone marrow and allogeneic MSCs such as umbilical cord blood MSCs, placenta-derived MSCs, etc. The wide source is not only an advantage of MSCs but also a disadvantage of MSCs. Because of different cell sources and different methods of collection and preparation, it is impossible to establish a unified standard method for evaluation of efficacy. The biggest advantage of iMSCs is that it can be prepared by a standardized process, and can be prepared on a large scale, which makes it easier to commercialize. This paper reviews the present status of diagnosis and progress of MSCs therapy for AP.

The impact of physiological stress conditions on protein structure and trypsin inhibition of serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 1 (SPINK1) and its N34S variant

One of the most common mutations in the serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 1 (SPINK1) gene is the N34S variant which is strongly associated with chronic pancreatitis. Although it is assumed that N34S mutation constitutes a high-risk factor, the underlying pathologic mechanism is still unknown. In the present study, we investigated the impact of physiological stress factors on SPINK1 protein structure and trypsin inhibitor function using biophysical methods. Our circular dichroism spectroscopy data revealed differences in the secondary structure of SPINK1 and N34S mutant suggesting protein structural changes induced by the mutation as an impairment that could be disease-relevant. We further confirmed that both SPINK1 (K_D of 0.15 ± 0.06 nM) and its N34S variant (K_D of 0.08 ± 0.02 nM) have similar binding affinity and inhibitory effect towards trypsin as shown by surface plasmon resonance and trypsin inhibition assay studies, respectively. We found that stress conditions such as altered ion concentrations (i.e. potassium, calcium), temperature shifts, as well as environmental pH lead to insignificant differences in trypsin inhibition between SPINK1 and N34S mutant. However, we have shown that the environmental pH induces structural changes in both SPINK1 constructs in a different manner. Our findings suggest protein structural changes in the N34S variant as an impairment of SPINK1 and environmental pH shift as a trigger that could play a role in disease progression of pancreatitis.

Pharmacovigilance Assessment of Drug-Induced Acute Pancreatitis Using a Spontaneous Reporting Database

Background:

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is associated with risks of morbidity and mortality. The incidence of AP recently increased compared to that traditionally reported in the literature.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible association between AP and drugs using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database, which is a spontaneous reporting database of adverse drug events.

Methods:

Adverse event reports submitted to the JADER database between 2004 and 2017 were analyzed. Disproportionality analysis was performed by calculating the reporting odds ratio (ROR) with 95% confidence intervals for signal detection.

Results:

A total of 3,443 reports (0.17% of all adverse events) were identified as drug-induced AP, in which 431 different drugs were involved. Acute pancreatitis was frequently reported in men (58.5%) in their 60s (19.1%); 40.6% developed AP within 4 weeks after the treatment. Among the most frequently reported drugs, signals were detected for prednisolone, ribavirin, sitagliptin, mesalazine, tacrolimus, and l-asparaginase, which are well-known causes of AP. Telaprevir, donepezil, and ustekinumab also generated signals. As for drugs with high RORs, l-asparaginase and alogliptin were noteworthy.

Conclusion:

Most of the identified drugs were already known to induce AP, but the likelihood of the reporting of AP varied among the drugs. Our results should raise physicians’ awareness of drugs associated with AP, but further investigation of these medications is warranted.

Idiopathic recurrent acute pancreatitis

Idiopathic recurrent acute pancreatitis is clinically challenging and has substantial socioeconomic consequences. Investigations are expensive and often reveal little about the cause of the disease. Little is known about the interaction between genetic, environmental, anatomical, and other factors that contribute to the disease. Data on the efficacy, safety, and long-term outcomes of endoscopic therapies are scarce. The effect of idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis on quality of life is often underestimated. A more thorough examination of the causes of the disease and the roles of other associated risk factors is needed, as are well designed clinical studies with robust and objectively measurable outcomes. Ideally, evaluation of the causes of disease and therapy should be done only in specialised centres, should follow a protocol, and all outcomes should be formally assessed.

Etiology and Risk Factors of Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis

Based on the recognition of common etiological and genetic risk factors, acute and chronic pancreatitis are increasingly regarded as a continuum of the same disease, with a significant overlap of clinical manifestations and phenotypes but distinct morphological and imaging appearances. Recent population-based and cohort studies have found that tobacco smoke conveys a greater risk than immoderate alcohol consumption for the development of chronic pancreatitis, and hypertriglyceridemia has been identified as a risk factor for acute pancreatitis - even when plasma levels are only mildly elevated. Hereditary pancreatitis, in its autosomal dominant form, is associated with mutations in the cationic trypsinogen gene (PRSS1), whereas a number of germline variations in other genes have been found to represent risk factors for chronic as well as acute pancreatitis. For now, most of these involve the pancreatic digestive protease/antiprotease system. Oftentimes, affected patients are burdened with multiple or accumulating risk factors, and genetic traits when combined with environmental toxins compound the chance of developing the disease. Determining the underlying etiology of pancreatitis is worth the effort since formerly intractable varieties such as autoimmune pancreatitis are now becoming increasingly treatable, and subtype-specific therapeutic modalities may become available.

Acute pancreatitis associated with intravenous administration of propofol: evaluation of causality in a systematic review of the literature

Acute pancreatitis (AP) associated with intravenous administration of propofol has been described with unknown causal relation. We therefore assessed this causality in a systematic review. Multiple databases were searched on 16 August 2017; studies were appraised and selected by two reviewers based on a priori criteria. Propofol causality was evaluated with the Naranjo scale and Badalov classification. We identified 18 studies from 11 countries with a total of 21 patients, and the majority had adequate methodological quality. The median age was 35 years (range, 4-77) and 10 (48%) were males. Overall, propofol was administrated in 8 patients as sedative along with induction/maintenance of anesthesia in 13 patients; median dose was 200 mg, with intermediate latency (1-30 days) in 14 (67%). Serum triglycerides were >1000 mg/dL in four patients. Severe AP was observed in four patients (19%). AP recurrence occurred in one out of two patients who underwent rechallenge. Mortality related to AP was 3/21(14%). Propofol was the probable cause of AP according to the Naranjo scale in 19 patients (89%). Propofol-induced AP has a probable causal relation and evidence supports Badalov class Ib. Hypertriglyceridemia is not the only mechanism by which propofol illicit AP. Propofol-induced AP was severe in 19% of patients with a mortality rate related to AP of 14%. Future research is needed to delineate whether this risk is higher if combined with other procedures that portend inherent risk of pancreatitis such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Immunosuppressive drugs and the gastrointestinal tract in renal transplant patients

Gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort is common after renal transplantation and can be caused by the use of various immunosuppressive drugs. GI symptoms affect the quality of life, lead to an impaired graft survival and an increased mortality. Moreover, diseases and disturbances of the GI tract also affect the pharmacokinetics of immunosuppressive drugs. This review addresses the interaction between immunosuppressive agents and GI disorders. The GI tract is involved in the metabolism of several immunosuppressive drugs. Calcineurin inhibitors, mTor inhibitors, and corticosteroids are subjected to metabolism by the intestinal cytochrome P450 (CYP3A) and by the drug efflux pump ABCB1. Mycophenolate is partly metabolized in the stomach and intestine and undergoes enterohepatic recirculation. Gastrointestinal disturbances can lead to a modified exposure to immunosuppressive drugs. In the first and second part of this review, we focus on the role of the GI tract in the pharmacokinetics of the immunosuppressive drugs and how to adjust immunosuppressive therapy in patients with vomiting, need for tube feeding, delayed gastric emptying, intestinal resection, and diarrhea. In the third part, we review the GI adverse effects of the various immunosuppressive drugs, with special attention for diarrhea and dyspepsia. Finally, we discuss the effects of drugs used for relief of GI complaints on the exposure to immunosuppressive agents.

Oral metronidazole use and risk of acute pancreatitis: a population-based case-control study

Objective

Oral metronidazole used in combined regimens for Helicobacter pylori eradication has been associated with an increased risk of acute pancreatitis; however, it is less clear whether a similar association exists for single-regimen metronidazole. We, therefore, examined the association of single and combined regimens of oral metronidazole with risk of acute pancreatitis.

Methods

In this population-based case-control study, all individuals in Sweden (aged 40-84 years) hospitalized with acute pancreatitis between January 2006 and December 2008 were identified from a national hospital register (n=5,996). Controls, matched for calendar year, age, and sex, were randomly sampled from a national population register (n=60,681). Data on oral metronidazole and covariates were extracted from national health and prescription registers. Odds ratios (ORs) of acute pancreatitis, according to timing of the latest metronidazole prescription before hospitalization, were estimated using logistic regression models. Confounding by indication was examined by contrasting the main results with the association when amoxicillin was used as exposure. The robustness of results was examined by calculating incidence rate ratios using a self-controlled case series approach.

Results

After adjustment for potential confounders, there was a substantially increased risk of acute pancreatitis within 30 days of oral metronidazole exposure, both for single (OR: 4.06; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.90-8.64) and combined (OR: 11.80; 95% CI: 6.86-20.28) regimens, compared to nonexposure. In contrast, the adjusted OR was 1.79 (95% CI: 1.25-2.54) for current use of amoxicillin compared to nonexposure. These results were supported by the self-controlled cases series analysis (incidence rate ratio: 3.30; 95% CI: 2.69-4.06, for single and combined regimens of oral metronidazole pooled). There was no strong association between oral metronidazole and acute pancreatitis more than 30 days after exposure.

Conclusion

There was an increased risk of acute pancreatitis within 30 days of exposure to single and combined regimens of oral metronidazole. While reverse causality and confounding by indication cannot be entirely excluded, they are unlikely to fully explain the association. These results warrant an increased awareness among physicians.

Systematic review of acute pancreatitis associated with interferon-α or pegylated interferon-α: Possible or definitive causation?

BACKGROUND

Acute pancreatitis (AP) associated with interferon-α or pegylated interferon-α (AP-IFN) has been described, although the causal relation certitude remains elusive. Some recent studies suggest definite causality, although the relation is grouped in class III of Badalov classification of drug-induced AP.

OBJECTIVES

Perform systematic review of AP-IFN and assess causality.

METHODS

Two reviewers independently evaluated the data and quality of studies extracted from multiple databases on March 13, 2017. Studies selection was based on a priori criteria. Naranjo scale, and Badalov classification were applied to determine causality.

RESULTS

We identified 16 studies that reported AP-IFN with a total of 23 patients. Fifteen studies had moderate to good methodological quality. The frequency of AP-IFN was 7/3450 (0.2%). The median age of patients was 50 years. In most cases IFN was used for chronic hepatitis C. The latency between IFN and diagnosis of AP was (>30 days). AP was mild or moderately severe and improved with supportive management. No mortality was observed. Re-challenge was done in 5 patients and resulted in AP recurrence in 3 cases. Twenty-one cases were classified as probable and 2 cases as definitive according to Naranjo scale. Evaluations of studies confirm a status Ia for AP-IFN according to Badalov classification.

CONCLUSION

AP-IFN is rare and has a probable or definite causal relation according to Naranjo scale. The evidence supports a class Ia of Badalov classification. Hypertriglyceridemia is not a contributing factor. IFN-induced AP is usually mild or moderately severe, and responds favorably to supportive management.