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Acute pancreatitis and Cushing's disease
K Hiramatsu1, J Moriuchi, S Arimori
1Department of Internal Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
Summary
Cushing's disease can lead to acute necrotizing pancreatitis, a rare condition. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-dependent hypercortisolism may be a potential cause of this severe pancreatic inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Pathology
Background:
- Cushing's disease is characterized by excessive cortisol production due to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) hypersecretion.
- Acute necrotizing pancreatitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammatory condition of the pancreas.
Observation:
- A 64-year-old woman with Cushing's disease developed acute necrotizing pancreatitis.
- This represents the second reported case linking ACTH-dependent hypercortisolism to this severe pancreatic outcome.
Findings:
- The case highlights a potential association between ACTH-dependent hypercortisolism and acute necrotizing pancreatitis.
- Amitriptyline hydrochloride, a tricyclic antidepressant, was considered a possible contributing factor but could not be definitively implicated.
Implications:
- ACTH-dependent hypercortisolism should be considered a potential etiological factor in acute necrotizing pancreatitis.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms linking hypercortisolism to pancreatic injury.