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Blame it on the Drug: A Rare Case of Recurrent Doxycycline-Induced Pancreatitis
Raghav Bassi1, Pranav Prakash1, Eason Balakrishnan1
1Internal Medicine, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Graduate Medical Education/North Florida Regional Medical Center, Gainesville, USA.
Abstract:
Doxycycline is a broad-spectrum bacteriostatic antibiotic that belongs to the tetracycline class. It is a relatively safe medication with reported side effects being gastrointestinal symptoms, bone and teeth discoloration, photosensitivity, and renal toxicity. Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an uncommon adverse effect with only a few reported cases in the literature. Despite tetracyclines being labeled as a probable causative agent of drug-induced pancreatitis (DIP), doxycycline has been rarely implicated. Herein we present the case of a 65-year-old patient who developed recurrent doxycycline-induced pancreatitis after she was inadvertently started on the medication for community-acquired pneumonia. The most common causes of pancreatitis were ruled out during her hospital admission and she was subsequently diagnosed with DIP. She was successfully treated with the cessation of the offending agent and with supportive therapy. It is critical that clinicians are aware of the possible association between doxycycline and pancreatitis to further aid in the prompt diagnosis and treatment of this condition.
Insights
Doxycycline, an antibiotic, can rarely cause acute pancreatitis (AP). This case highlights recurrent AP in a patient inadvertently treated with doxycycline, emphasizing the need for clinical awareness of this drug-induced pancreatitis (DIP).
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Doxycycline, a tetracycline antibiotic, is generally safe but can cause side effects.
- Drug-induced pancreatitis (DIP) is a rare but serious adverse effect of medications.
- Tetracyclines are implicated in DIP, yet doxycycline is infrequently associated.
Observation:
- A 65-year-old patient developed recurrent acute pancreatitis.
- The pancreatitis episodes were linked to inadvertent doxycycline treatment for community-acquired pneumonia.
- Other common causes of pancreatitis were excluded.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with drug-induced pancreatitis (DIP) attributed to doxycycline.
- Discontinuation of doxycycline and supportive care led to successful treatment.
- This case underscores the potential for doxycycline to cause recurrent pancreatitis.
Implications:
- Clinicians must consider doxycycline as a potential cause of acute pancreatitis.
- Prompt diagnosis and cessation of the offending agent are crucial for managing DIP.
- Increased awareness can improve patient outcomes for doxycycline-induced pancreatitis.
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