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Heroin-Induced Acute Pancreatitis.
Camelia Ciobanu1, Raja Shekar Jadav2,3, Ana Colon Ramos3
1Medicine, St. Barnabas Hospital, Bronx, USA.
Cureus
|July 15, 2021
Summary
Heroin-induced pancreatitis is rare. This report details two acute pancreatitis cases linked to heroin use, highlighting the need for vigilance in diagnosing drug-induced conditions.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Gastroenterology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Heroin-induced pancreatitis (HIP) is a rare condition.
- The exact pathophysiological mechanisms underlying HIP remain largely uninvestigated.
- Few cases of HIP have been documented in existing medical literature.
Observation:
- Two cases of acute pancreatitis (AP) are presented in patients with acute heroin (diacetylmorphine) intoxication.
- Both individuals reported nausea, vomiting, and severe abdominal pain following intranasal heroin administration.
- Laboratory findings included elevated serum lipase and positive urine toxicology for opioids, with no other apparent causes for AP.
Findings:
- The presented cases suggest a correlation between acute heroin intoxication and the development of acute pancreatitis.
- Patients experienced a complete recovery following supportive medical management.
- The diagnosis of drug-induced pancreatitis requires exclusion of common etiologies and a high index of clinical suspicion.
Implications:
- These cases underscore the importance of considering heroin use as a potential cause of acute pancreatitis.
- Further research into the pathophysiology of heroin-induced pancreatitis is warranted.
- Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for HIP in patients with unexplained AP and a history of opioid use.