Valproic acid induced necrohemorragic pancreatitis: Case report and diagnostic approach in uncommon pancreatitis

Valproic Acid-Associated Acute Pancreatitis: Systematic Literature Review

Long-term medication with valproic acid has been associated with acute pancreatitis. The purpose of this report is to gain insight into the features of this pancreatitis. A preregistered literature search (CRD42023438294) was performed on the National Library of Medicine, Excerpta Medica, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Patients with alcohol abuse disorder, gallstone disease, hypertriglyceridemia or hypercalcemia, patients with acute valproic acid intoxication, and patients with a pre-existing pancreatitis were excluded. For the final analysis, we retained 73 reports published between 1979 and 2023, which described 125 subjects (83 children and 42 adults predominantly affected by an epilepsy) with an acute pancreatitis related to valproic acid. The diagnosis was made 11 (3.0-24) months (median and interquartile range) after starting valproic acid. One hundred and five cases (84%) recovered and twenty (16%) died. Sex, age, dosage or circulating level of valproic acid, latency time, prevalence of intellectual disability, and antiepileptic co-medication were similar in cases with and without a lethal outcome. Nineteen subjects were rechallenged with valproic acid after recovery: sixteen (84%) cases developed a further episode of pancreatitis. In conclusion, pancreatitis associated with valproic acid presents at any time during treatment and has a high fatality rate.

The Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Cell Injury Induced by Methimazole on Pancreatic Cells

Purpose: Methimazole is an anti-thyroid agent, especially as main therapy option for Graves' disease in children and adults. Drug induced pancreatitis is one of the known adverse effect of methimazole mentioned in case reports. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms of methimazole-induced pancreatitis are still unclear. In this study, the aim is to investigate the adverse effect of methimazole on pancreas cell stress mechanism and apoptosis. Methods: Cytotoxicity was evaluated in human pancreas/duct (PANC-1) cell line. Total oxidant (TOS) and antioxidant status (TAS) for oxidative stress index, glutathione (GSH) level and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress biomarkers were evaluated by ELISA. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and apoptosis were evaluated by flow-cytometer. Results: The 30% inhibition rate concentration (IC₃₀) value was determined as 53 mM in PANC1 cells. The exposure concentrations were in the range of 0-40 mM for 48 hours. Methimazole might induce cellular stress conditions. ROS production increases depending on concentration, and this increase shows parallelism with the increase in ER stress biomarkers such as TOS, ERN1 and CASPASE12. Conversely, there was no significant difference between control and exposure groups in terms of apoptosis. Conclusion: In conclusion, methimazole might have triggered the mechanisms of inflammation or autophagy in the pancreatic cells. However, there is still a need for in vitro and in vivo studies including other cellular parameters related to apoptosis.

Valproate Induced Acute Pancreatitis - A Unique Case Report

BACKGROUND

Valproate is widely prescribed medication for the control of seizures in pediatric population. It has been reported to be an important implication for drug induced pancreatitis. A case of valproate induced acute pancreatitis operated as surgical abdomen has been reported here.

CASE REPORT

A 13-year-old child presented to the emergency department with severe pain and abdominal distension associated with vomiting and constipation for four days. The patient's care givers did not disclose any medication history. Based on clinical examination and ultrasonography that revealed mild free fluid, provisional diagnosis of pyoperitoneum with peritonitis was made. An emergency exploratory laparotomy was undertaken during which acute pancreatitis was diagnosed intra-operatively. On further enquiry the caregiver revealed the history of valproate intake for last six months for generalized tonic‑clonic seizures. Valproate was discontinued and there was complete resolution of symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Both clinicians as well as care givers of paediatric patients receiving valproate should be watchful regarding this possible life-threatening complication to avoid delay in diagnosis and appropriate management.

Drug-induced pancreatitis: An update

Drug-induced pancreatitis is a disease that is receiving increasing attention. This article reviews the advances in the incidence, risk factors, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of drug-induced pancreatitis by reviewing the literature on drug-induced pancreatitis, especially in the literature of the latest 10 years. The incidence of drug-induced pancreatitis is relatively low, however, there is an increasing trend with the widespread use of drugs, and the incidence seems to be related to regional distribution. There is currently lack of data on the epidemiology of drug-induced pancreatitis in China. In recent years, research on the pathogenesis of drug-induced pancreatitis has made some progress, but further research is needed. Drug-induced pancreatitis is a diagnosis of exclusion. With further understanding and research, a new diagnostic approach has been proposed. Pharmacogenomics is expected to help prevent and perform an individual treatment of drug-induced pancreatitis.