Pancreatic disturbances and typhoid fever.
During an 8-year period, 14 adult patients were hospitalized with typhoid fever confirmed by positive blood cultures for Salmonella typhi. Among these patients, we have retrospectively (n = 7) and prospectively (n = 7) evaluated pancreatic disturbance by serum amylase and lipase measurements at the time of admission. In 7 (50%) biological signs of pancreatitis were noted: mean amylase level 81 IU (range 30-201 IU, normal value less than 40 IU), mean lipase level 949 IU (range 468-2,000 IU, normal value less than 300 IU). Clinical signs of pancreatitis were observed in 4 cases, one of whom had a concomitant salmonella biliary tract infection and gall stones demonstrated by laparotomy and the others a normal biliary ultrasonographic examination with a swelling of the pancreas. No alcohol or drug use or other infection were noted before admission. This study suggests that biological or clinical pancreatitis should be considered as a frequent complication of typhoid fever. S. typhi should therefore be added to the list of pathogens implicated in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic or non-lithiasic pancreatitis.
Hermans
P
P
Division of Infectious Diseases, St. Pierre University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
Gerard
M
M
van Laethem
Y
Y
de Wit
S
S
Clumeck
N
N
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008049:Lipase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012485:Salmonella typhi; D014435:Typhoid Fever / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology
D008049:Lipase; D000681:Amylases