Hydronephrosis as an unusual cause of acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas. The most common cause of acute pancreatitis is gallstone impacting the distal common bile-pancreatic duct (38%) and alcoholism (36%). There have been a few reports in the literature of acute pancreatitis associated with an obstructed urinary system. This case describes a 38-year-old male with acute pancreatitis occurring in the setting of hydronephrosis. A magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography (MRCP) showed right-sided severe hydronephrosis pushing the duodenum and head of pancreas anteriorly, thus obliterating distal segment of the common bile duct. There were also multiple right renal stones causing ureteral obstruction and hydronephrosis. Right nephrostomy was performed to release bile duct obstruction. However, sepsis and disseminated intravascular coagulation developed as a complication of acute pancreatitis, and the patient passed away. Although gallstone and alcoholism are the most common causes of acute pancreatitis, other causes should always be considered. Physicians should be aware of right hydronephrosis as one of the possible causes of acute pancreatitis in their workup of patients.