AN UNUSUAL ETIOLOGY OF ACUTE NECROTIC PANCREATITIS IN A COMATOSE PATIENT

Year 2019, Volume: 10 Issue: 2, 43 - 46, 01.04.2019

Cristina Bologa Catalina Lionte Manuela Ursaru Laurentıu Sorodoc Elena Adorata Coman Gabriele Puha Ovidiu Rusalim Petris

https://doi.org/10.33706/jemcr.551135

Cited By: 2

Abstract

Introduction:
The etiology of an acute necrotic pancreatitis
is represented by gallstone disease, alcohol intake, abdominal trauma and drugs
(in about %2 of cases). There are at least 100 drugs which can determine acute
pancreatitis. Valproic acid-induced pancreatitis is reported as a complication
of chronic therapy with this drug.

Case
Report: we report here the first case of acute
pancreatitis in a 22-year-old comatose woman with valproic acid acute overdose
in attempted suicide, a patient naïve to valproate therapy. The patient
presented 24 hours after ingestion of a massive dose of extended release
valproate with profound coma, and features of acute necrotic pancreatitis,
confirmed by contrast enhanced abdominal CT scan. She had favorable outcome
with supportive and conservative treatment only.

Conclusion:
Emergency physicians should be aware of this unusual presentation of valproate
toxicity, even in patients at first exposure to this drug. 

Keywords

Coma, Valproate, pancreatitis

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