Acute pancreatitis as an initial presentation of SLE: a case report
Background: SLE is a complex multi- systemic autoimmune disease capable of affecting any organ system with varying presentations. Abdominal pain is a common manifestation of SLE and is reported to occur in about 8% to 40% of patients with SLE. The causes of abdominal pain are varied and require...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | en |
| Published: |
John Wiley & Sons
2021
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/36142/1/acute2.pdf http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/36142/ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1756185x |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Background: SLE is a complex multi- systemic autoimmune disease
capable of affecting any organ system with varying presentations.
Abdominal pain is a common manifestation of SLE and is reported
to occur in about 8% to 40% of patients with SLE. The causes of
abdominal pain are varied and require accurate assessment. Acute
Pancreatitis is a cause of abdominal pain and is a rare initial SLE
presentation. It is characterized by abdominal pain and raised serum
amylase levels. We would like to report a patient diagnosed with SLE
following an initial presentation of Acute Pancreatitis, which was
complicated with a pancreatic pseudocyst.
Case Report: The patient is an 18- year- old lady with no previous
known medical illness who presented with a one day history of acute
central abdominal pain radiating to the back. This was preceded by a
two week history of fever and non- productive cough. Further history
revealed that she had alopecia, malar rash and painless oral ulcers
one year before this presentation but did not seek medical attention.
Physical examination revealed a tender and distended abdomen.
Blood investigations showed leukopenia, elevated amylase with a
positive Anti- nuclear antibody, and coombs test. She was admitted
to the ICU and treated with intravenous cyclophosphamide, methylprednisolone,
immunoglobulin, and antibiotics. During her follow- up
a month after discharge, she was found to have recurrent abdominal
pain and distension. A repeated CT Abdomen showed a pancreatic
pseudocyst, and she underwent an endoscopic cystogastrostomy.
Currently, she is on regular follow- up and is currently maintained on
Hydroxychloroquine, Azathioprine, and Prednisolone.
Conclusion: In summary, Acute Pancreatitis is a relatively rare initial
manifestation of SLE. The causes of Acute Pancreatitis are varied,
and it is essential to recognize and differentiate Acute Pancreatitis
due to active SLE from other causes as it may affect treatment decisions
and subsequent mortality outcomes. |
|---|