A rare case of thrombotic microangiopathy triggered by acute pancreatitis

Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Secondary to Pancreatitis: A Case Report

This is a report of an extremely rare case of an atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) that appears to have been triggered by acute pancreatitis. A 68-year-old man was examined at a medical institution because of sudden lower abdominal pain. The patient was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis on computed tomography. Hemoglobinuria and laboratory findings indicative of intravascular hemolysis were noted. Biochemical analysis revealed normal results for von Willebrand factor activity, antiplatelet antibodies, and ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13), and stool culture was negative for Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli, leading to the diagnosis of aHUS. Treatment for acute pancreatitis resulted in improvement in the laboratory findings, and the patient's progress was monitored without treatment intervention for aHUS. On day 2 of hospitalization, the abdominal symptoms and hemoglobinuria resolved without any subsequent recurrence. In the absence of any complications, the patient was transferred back to the initial hospital on day 26 of hospitalization. When hemolytic anemia or thrombocytopenia of unknown etiology is observed, aHUS should be suspected, and clinicians should be aware that acute pancreatitis may be a potential cause of aHUS.

Thrombotic Microangiopathy Secondary to Pancreatitis: A Diagnostic Enigma

The association between thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) and pancreatitis is well known. However, TMA leading to pancreatitis is more common than the latter. TMA and renal failure are both poor prognostic markers in acute pancreatitis. TMA, if not managed timely, can lead to severe morbidity and mortality. We report a case of a young boy in whom decisive and timely diagnosis and management of TMA post pancreatitis helped in complete patient and renal recovery.

[Acute kidney injury following acute pancreatitis (AP-AKI): Definition, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Therapy]

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is the most frequent gastrointestinal cause for hospitalization and one of the leading causes of in-hospital deaths. Severe acute pancreatitis is often associated with multiorgan failure and especially with acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI can develop early or late in the course of the disease and is a strong determinator of outcome. The mortality in the case of dialysis-dependent AKI and acute pancreatitis raises exponentially in the affected patients. AP-induced AKI (AP-AKI) shows many similarities but also distinct differences to other causes of AKI occurring in the intensive care unit setting. The knowledge of the exact pathophysiology can help to adjust, control and improve therapeutic approaches to the disease. Unfortunately, there are only a few studies dealing with AP and AKI.In this review, we discuss recent data about pathogenesis, causes and management of AP-AKI in patients with severe acute pancreatitis and exploit in this regard the diagnostic and prognostic potential of respective newer serum and urine markers.

Potential Prognostic Markers of Acute Kidney Injury in the Early Phase of Acute Pancreatitis

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication of acute pancreatitis (AP), which occurs in up to 70% of patients with severe AP and significantly increases the risk of mortality. At present, AKI is diagnosed based on dynamic increase in serum creatinine and decreased urine output; however, there is a need for earlier and more accurate biomarkers. The aim of the study was to review current evidence on the laboratory tests that were studied as the potential biomarkers of AKI in AP. We also briefly summarized the knowledge coming from the studies including sepsis or ICU patients since severe acute pancreatitis is associated with systemic inflammation and organ failure. Serum cystatin C and serum or urine NGAL have been shown to predict or diagnose AKI in AP; however, this evidence come from the single center studies of low number of patients. Other markers, such as urinary kidney injury molecule-1, cell cycle arrest biomarkers (tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-2 and urine insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7), interleukin-18, liver-type fatty acid-binding protein, or calprotectin have been studied in other populations suffering from systemic inflammatory states. In AP, the potential markers of AKI may be significantly influenced by either dehydration or inflammation, and the impact of these factors may be difficult to distinguish from kidney injury. The subject of AKI complicating AP is understudied. More studies are needed, for both exploratory (to choose the best markers) and clinical (to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the chosen markers in real clinical settings).