title: Metronidazole-induced acute pancreatitis.
abstract: Three cases of metronidazole-induced acute pancreatitis have been reported recently in three women who were being treated for nonspecific vaginitis. We report the fourth such case in a 63-year-old woman with long-standing Crohn's disease who developed acute pancreatitis that was temporally associated with the initiation of metronidazole therapy for a rectovaginal fistula. No other risk factors for pancreatitis were identified except for possibly Crohn's disease itself. We review the literature with regard to metronidazole-induced acute pancreatitis and suggest a possible mechanism. Metronidazole should be considered as a possible cause of acute pancreatitis, and its use should be discontinued if no other risk factor is found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Research Service, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Iowa City, Iowa.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Corey
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Doebbeling
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: DeJong
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Britigan
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012006:Rectovaginal Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D008795:Metronidazole