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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 21, 2007; 13(43): 5741-5744
Published online Nov 21, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i43.5741
Acute pancreatitis in acute viral hepatitis
Pankaj Jain, Sandeep Nijhawan, Ramesh Roop Rai, Subhash Nepalia, Amit Mathur
Pankaj Jain, Sandeep Nijhawan, Ramesh Roop Rai, Subhash Nepalia, Amit Mathur, Department of Gastroenterology, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Sandeep Nijhawan, Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. dr_nijhawan@yahoo.com
Telephone: +91-141-2722335 Fax: +91-141-2560994
Received: May 10, 2007
Revised: September 6, 2007
Accepted: October 18, 2007
Published online: November 21, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To elucidate the frequency and characteristics of pancreatic involvement in the course of acute (nonfulminant) viral hepatitis.

METHODS: We prospectively assessed the pancreatic involvement in patients with acute viral hepatitis who presented with severe abdominal pain.

RESULTS: We studied 124 patients with acute viral hepatitis, of whom 24 presented with severe abdominal pain. Seven patients (5.65%) were diagnosed to have acute pancreatitis. All were young males. Five patients had pancreatitis in the first week and two in the fourth week after the onset of jaundice. The pancreatitis was mild and all had uneventful recovery from both pancreatitis and hepatitis on conservative treatment. The etiology of pancreatitis was hepatitis E virus in 4, hepatitis A virus in 2, and hepatitis B virus in 1 patient. One patient had biliary sludge along with HEV infection. The abdominal pain of remaining seventeen patients was attributed to stretching of Glisson’s capsule.

CONCLUSION: Acute pancreatitis occurs in 5.65% of patients with acute viral hepatitis, it is mild and recovers with conservative management.

Keywords: Acute hepatitis; Pancreatitis; Viruses; Pain; Abdomen