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Pentamidine-associated pancreatitis

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Summary

Two patients without risk factors or a prior history of pancreatitis developed acute pancreatitis soon after initiating pentamidine isethionate therapy forPneumocystis carinii pneumonia associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. In both patients the pancreatitis improved following medication cessation. One patient did not redevelop pancreatitis when he subsequently received inhaled pentamidine. Review of the literature revealed five previously reported cases of this drug reaction. Pentamidine-associated pancreatitis appears to develop within three weeks of initiating therapy and after receiving more than 1 g in cumulative dosage. Glucose abnormalities, renal insufficiency, and nonspecific abdominal pain may be early warning signs of pentamidine-associated pancreatitis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology of the Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York

    Mitchell S. Schwartz MD &  Mitchell S. Cappell MD, PhD

  2. Department of Medicine/Gastroenterology, University of Medicine of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 08903-0019, New Brunswick, New Jersey

    Mitchell S. Schwartz MD &  Mitchell S. Cappell MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Mitchell S. Schwartz MD
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  2. Mitchell S. Cappell MD, PhD
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Schwartz, M.S., Cappell, M.S. Pentamidine-associated pancreatitis. Digest Dis Sci 34, 1617–1620 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537122

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537122

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