Related Experiment Videos
Pancreatitis associated with simvastatin plus fenofibrate.
Kevin B McDonald1, Bryan G Garber, Marc M Perreault
1Pharmacy Department, Ottawa Hospital-General Campus, 501 Smyth, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8L6, Canada. kmcdonald@ottawa-hospital.on.ca
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|February 19, 2002
Summary
This case report highlights a severe instance of acute necrotizing pancreatitis potentially triggered by simvastatin and fenofibrate. The patient experienced critical illness, underscoring the importance of considering drug-induced pancreatitis.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Clinical Pharmacology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Drug-induced pancreatitis is a recognized but often underreported adverse drug reaction.
- Statins and fibrates are commonly prescribed for dyslipidemia, necessitating vigilance for associated toxicities.
Observation:
- A 70-year-old male developed acute necrotizing pancreatitis with systemic inflammatory response syndrome after initiating simvastatin and fenofibrate.
- The patient's condition worsened despite medical management, requiring intensive care unit admission and surgical intervention.
- Despite extensive treatment, the patient ultimately succumbed to complications including bowel perforation.
Findings:
- While idiopathic pancreatitis was considered, drug-induced etiology was strongly suspected due to the temporal relationship with simvastatin and fenofibrate use.
- Previous case reports link simvastatin to acute pancreatitis, but fenofibrate-induced pancreatitis has not been previously documented.
- The patient's pancreatitis onset correlated with simvastatin therapy duration, suggesting it as a likely causative agent.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider simvastatin and fenofibrate as potential causes of pancreatitis, especially in the absence of other identifiable risk factors.
- This case emphasizes the need for heightened awareness and prompt investigation of pancreatitis in patients using lipid-lowering medications.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms and incidence of pancreatitis associated with these drug classes.