Journal of the Pancreas Open Access

Keywords

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non- Steroidal; Comment; Indomethacin /adverse effects; Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing

REPLY

Dear Sir:

I read about the case of indomethacin-induced pancreatitis reported by Mahjoub et al. with great interest [1]. Mahjoub’s research together with my reports dealing with pancreatitis caused by indomethacin are in the literature and they further reinforce the fact that NSAID may cause acute pancreatitis. Despite the low incidence of drug-induced pancreatitis, all patients with acute pancreatitis of an unknown etiology should be carefully questioned about drugs which could possibly be responsible for the induction of the disease. As the use of NSAID increases, physicians should consider the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in patients taking these medications who then develop abdominal pain not explained by any other cause. If pancreatitis is suspected, the drug should be stopped and replaced to reduce the possibility of further episodes of pancreatitis.

References

1. Mahjoub W, Jarboui S, Ben Moussa M, Abdesselem MM, Zaouche A. Indomethacin-induced pancreatitis: a second case report. JOP. J Pancreas (Online) 2006; 7:321-323.