Acute Pancreatitis Associated With Cushing Syndrome

[~MaryO~]

Highlights

• There is a highs suspicion of acute pancreatitis complications for patients with Cushing syndrome.

• Corticosteroids are a common cause for both Cushing syndrome and acute pancreatitis.

• There are many common etiologies between Cushing syndrome and acute pancreatitis.

• Cushing syndrome is a risk factor of acute pancreatitis, need further detailed studies.

Abstract

Introduction

Cushing's syndrome (CS) is a rare and severe disease. Acute pancreatitis is the leading cause of hospitalization. The association of the two disease is rare and uncommon. We report the case of a 37-year-old woman admitted in our service for acute pancreatitis and whose Cushing syndrome was diagnosed during hospitalisation. The aim of this work is to try to understand the influence of de Cushing in acute pancreatitis and to establish a causative relationship between the two diseases.

Observation

It is a 37-year-old woman with a history of corticosteroid intake for six months, stopped three months ago who consulted for epigastralgia and vomiting. The physical exam found epigastric sensitivity with Cushing syndrome symptoms. A CT scan revealed acute edematous-interstitial pancreatitis stage E of Balthazar classification. 24 h free cortisol of 95 μg/24 h and cortisolemia of 3.4 μg/dl. The patient was treated symptomatically and referred after to endocrinology service for further treatment.

Conclusion

The association with acute pancreatitis and CS is rare and uncommon. Although detailed studies and evidence are lacking, it can therefore be inferred that CS is one of the risk factors for the onset of acute pancreatitis. The medical treatment and management of acute pancreatitis in those patients do not differ from other pancreatitis of any etiologies.

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