COVID-19 presenting as acute pancreatitis

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Infectious Diseases
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• The global COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has led to widespread illness and mortality.
• While respiratory symptoms are most common, gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations are increasingly reported.
• Understanding the diverse clinical presentations of COVID-19 is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.

Observation:

• A case of COVID-19 is presented in which the initial and primary symptom was acute pancreatitis (AP).
• The patient had no pre-existing risk factors typically associated with AP, such as gallstones or alcohol abuse.
• This presentation suggests a potential direct or indirect role of SARS-CoV-2 in the development of pancreatic inflammation.

Findings:

• COVID-19 infection was confirmed in the patient presenting with acute pancreatitis.
• The absence of other risk factors strengthens the hypothesis linking SARS-CoV-2 to the pancreatic event.
• This case adds to the growing body of evidence on the extrapulmonary manifestations of COVID-19.

Implications:

• Clinicians should consider COVID-19 in patients presenting with acute pancreatitis, especially in the absence of other known causes.
• This finding broadens the spectrum of gastrointestinal complications associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 may induce acute pancreatitis.