COVID-19 Associated Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis with Normal Serum Amylase and Lipase Levels: Report of an Unusual Finding

Coronaviruses are a large family of single-stranded RNA viruses infecting humans and animals, causing a multitude of symptoms. COVID-19 is not only known to affect the respiratory system, but shows unusual gastrointestinal complications. Pancreatitis can be caused by biliary stones, alcohol abuse, viruses, drug intake, metabolic syndromes, or trauma. Diagnosis of acute pancreatitis requires any two of the three criteria: acute onset of severe upper abdominal pain, consistent with pancreatitis; elevation of serum amylase or lipase, three times the upper limit of normal; and/or characteristic imaging findings. COVID-19 associated pancreatitis is thought to be mediated by the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 receptor on the host cells, which are highly expressed in the pancreatic cells. Here, we report a unique case of acute necrotizing pancreatitis caused by COVID-19 with hyperglycemia and normal amylase and lipase levels.

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Frequency of Left Plueral Effusion in Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis

10.53350/pjmhs2115103349 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (10) ◽

pp. 3349-3351

Author(s):

Hunain . ◽

Farah Saleem ◽

Muhammad Waqas Arshad ◽

Kauser Shaikh ◽

Mamoona Shaikh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acute Pancreatitis ◽

Pleural Effusion ◽

Serum Amylase ◽

Necrotizing Pancreatitis ◽

Case Series ◽

Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis ◽

Amylase Level ◽

X Ray ◽

Left Pleural Effusion ◽

Acute Necrotizing

Objective: The aim of this study is to calculate the prevalence of left plueral effusion in acute necrotizing pancreatitis. Study Design: Observational/ case series Place and Duration: Conducted at surgery department of Saidu Teaching Hospital, Swat and Ibne Sina Hospital and Research Institute, Multan for duration of six months from January 2021 to June 2021. Methods: A total of 95 patients, both males and females, ranging in age from 15 to 65 years, were presented. After receiving informed written consent, the baseline comprehensive demographics of the patients presented were recorded, including age, gender, and body mass index. Patients with acute pancreatitis and serum amylase levels greater than 300U/dL were eligible to participate. Patients were subjected to X-ray and CT scans in their entirety. Prevalence of necrotizing pancreatitis was calculated by CT scan and for left plueral effusion X-ray of chest was taken. SPSS 24.0 version was used to analyze complete data. Results: Majority of the patients 65 (68.4%) were females and 30 (31.6%) were males with mean age 39.14+5.67 years. 26 (27.4%) cases had BMI less than 20kg/m2 and the majority were >20kg/m2. Gallstone was the most common cause of acute pancreatitis found in 45 (47.4%) cases, followed by alcoholism 25 (26.3%) and medications 12 (12.6%). Among 95 cases, prevalence of necrotizing pancreatitis was 42 (44.2%) in which 40 cases had left plueral effusion. Mortality rate among necrotizing pancreatitis was 13 (33.3%). Conclusion: We found that the majority of individuals with necrotizing pancreatitis experienced pleural effusion on the left side. Thus, patients with acute pancreatitis who have a high serum amylase level must be treated earlier if they have a left pleural effusion because of severity. Keywords: Plueral Effusion, Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis, Mortality

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