Triglyceride to HDL-C Ratio Is Associated with Plasma D-Dimer Levels in Different Types of Pancreatitis: A Retrospective Single-Centered Study in China

BackgroundThis study aims to evaluate the relationship between D-dimer and dyslipidemia, especially triglyceride to HDL-C ratio (TG/HDL-C) in different types of pancreatitis. We analyzed the D-dimer and dyslipidemia levels in acute pancreatitis (AP), recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP). Material and MethodsA single-centered retrospective study was conducted on 1013 patients diagnosed with AP, RAP or CP. Only patients hospitalized within 24 h of onset were included, and 204 patients were enrolled in pancreatitis groups. 68 normal persons without pancreatitis, malignant diseases, pregnancy, or organ failure, who had health check-ups, were enrolled in the control group. Blood samples were taken within 24h of admission. The epidemiology and etiology were analyzed. D-dimer and dyslipidemia levels were compared between different types of pancreatitis. Furthermore, the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to estimate the validity of the predictor and to define optimal cut-off points for prediction.ResultsWe found that D-dimer and TG/HDL-C ratio could distinguish mild AP (MAP) and non-MAP in AP and RAP patients. The D-dimer level was related to TG/HDL-C ratio and severity of pancreatitis, with the coefficient correlation of 0.379 and 0.427(p<0.01), respectively. TG/HDL-C was related to D-dimer in different types of pancreatitis. Multivariate analysis was conducted in the parameters at admission like alcohol abuse, dyslipidemia and coagulation disturbance in distinguishing AP and RAP groups from the control group, and the parameter like diabetes in RAP and CP groups significantly increased compared with that of the control group. ConclusionsThe value of D-dimer level and TG/HDL-C ratio in predicting the severity of AP and RAP was confirmed but there was no significant difference between CP group and the control group. The D-dimer level was related to dyslipidemia and TG/HDL-C ratio.

Double plastic stent implantation for recurrent acute pancreatitis with incomplete pancreas divisum: a case report and literature review

Pancreas divisum (PD) is a common pancreatic malformation caused by the failure of fusion between ventral and dorsal pancreatic ducts. There is a small branch of communication between the two systems in incomplete PD, and this variation has an incidence of 15%. A 43-year-old female patient presented to our department with recurrent abdominal pain. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) showed that the ventral pancreatic duct was curved, with a local pouchlike dilatation. Endoscopic ultrasonography supported the diagnosis of incomplete PD and showed a thin branch of communication between ventral and dorsal pancreatic ducts. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and papillotomy of the minor papilla with double plastic stent implantation were performed. One pancreatic plastic stent was inserted across the minor and major papilla over the guide wire, creating a U-shape. The other wire-guided plastic stent was inserted through the minor papilla into the dorsal pancreatic duct. The pancreatic fluid drained smoothly after stent placement. During the 6-month follow-up, the patient remained well, without recurrence of pancreatitis.

Recurrent acute pancreatitis during a ketogenic diet—a case report and literature review

Background The ketogenic (“keto”) diet has been gaining more attention lately in the medical literature and the lay media as a potentially effective method for weight control and management of type 2 diabetes. Though rare, there have been case reports of serious side effects. Here, we present a peculiar case of pancreatitis presumably associated with the ketogenic diet. Case presentation A 35-year-old man on a calorie-restricted ketogenic diet presented to the emergency department with weekly abdominal pain on Monday mornings, each time after dietary indiscretions (“cheat days”) on the weekend. It was found that he had a clinical presentation consistent with acute pancreatitis with no associated alcohol use, hypertriglyceridemia, pancreatic obstruction, or other anatomic abnormalities. The patient’s symptoms resolved with conservative management and progressive reintroduction of a standard diet. Conclusion This case indicates that the ketogenic diet could lower the threshold for acute pancreatitis, and that an episodic stressor may trigger an acute attack in the absence of traditional risk factors.

833 An Interesting Association Between Recurrent Acute Pancreatitis and Myotonic Dystrophy, A Case Report

Myotonic Dystrophy(MD) is an autosomal dominant genetic condition affecting the musculoskeletal system. Recurrent acute pancreatitis(RAP) is a frequent presentation in the emergency surgical scenario with two or more episodes of established acute pancreatitis separated by a minimum of 3 month periods. We report here a case of a patient presenting with a background of Myotonic Dystrophy with a third episode of RAP. Diagnostic work up led to the discovery of microlithiasis as a possible cause of pancreatitis in our patient. Literature review reports two other case reports detailing a potential association between MD and pancreatitis at the time of writing. This could be due to disturbances of the pancreatobiliary system, resulting from the sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) and gallbladder myotonia as MD affects the smooth and striated muscle of the gastrointestinal tract. In our case report, we highlight the importance of understanding how MD is a rare cause for a common surgical emergency presentation clinicians should be aware of.

Recurrent acute pancreatitis in a Wilson disease patient: an unusual association

Background Wilson’s disease is a multisystem disorder with predominant clinical symptoms depending on the site of copper deposition in the body. Hepatic presentation is usually seen in the younger age group. And pancreatitis is rarely associated with Wilson’s disease. To the best of our knowledge, recurrent acute pancreatitis as a presenting manifestation in a WD patient has not been mentioned before in the literature. Case presentation We report a 17-year-old boy who presented with recurrent acute pancreatitis and subsequently developed deranged liver enzymes and ascites. Work up for the cause of recurrent acute pancreatitis was normal. Low ceruloplasmin (0.07 mg/dL), high 24-h urinary copper excretion (576 μg/day), and dry copper content in the liver (270 μg/g) clinched the diagnosis of Wilson’s disease. The patient was started on a low-copper diet and D-penicillamine therapy resulting in an improvement in symptoms and no further recurrence of pancreatitis. Conclusion The possibility of Wilson’s disease should be considered in young patients with recurrent acute pancreatitis, who have a protracted and obscure disease course.