Silent acute pancreatitis with encephalomalacia mimicking hepatic coma

A very rare case of acute pancreatitis with concurrent encephalomalacia and ascites mimicking hepatic coma is described. The possibliity that the pancreatitis was caused by the administration of chlorothiazide in a diabetic patient is suggested as possible etiology. It is emphasized that when a cirrhotic patient develops coma, the possibility of painless,silent pancreatitis with encephalomalacia as well as hepatic coma should be considered in the differential diagnosis.