Valproic acid induced necrohemorragic pancreatitis: Case report and diagnostic approach in uncommon pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the most frequent gastrointestinal alterations in the United States. Medication induced AP has been undervalued in the surgical environment as etiologic entity of necrohemorragic pancreatitis (NHP). A case of NHP induced by valproic acid (VA) is presented, and an exclusion diagnostic algorithm is proposed. CASE REPORT: A 29-year-old female with past medical history of migraine controlled with VA was admitted to our institute for acute abdominal pain and peritoneal irritation. An exploratory laparotomy was performed, finding pancreatic necrosis and a diagnosis of NHP was determined. The most frequent etiologies for AP were discarded. An exclusion diagnostic algorithm was performed reaching VA as etiologic gent. The treatment consisted on medication withdrawal, oral restriction, parenteral nutrition, hydration, analgesia and peritoneal wash-outs with a positive outcome. CONCLUSION: Is convenient to consider a medication induced AP in patients without clear causative agent, such as the VA case presented. An etiological diagnosis algorithm of exclusion is proposed, for an adequate therapeutic approach in medication induced PNH. Algorithm validation is required.