title: Metformin induced acute pancreatitis precipitated by renal failure.
abstract: Metformin is a biguanide commonly used in type 2 diabetes and considered to be a safe drug with minimal side effects. Approximately 2% of cases of acute pancreatitis may be caused by drugs, but it is not a known complication of metformin therapy. To date only one case of pancreatitis has been reported in association with metformin, but that was secondary to metformin poisoning (overdose). This is the first reported case of pancreatitis caused by a therapeutic dose of metformin (although in this case renal failure precipitated the metformin toxicity). Severe lactic acidosis is a rare but life threatening complication of metformin, which occurs particularly in patients with renal failure.
authors.affiliation: srikumarmallick@hotmail.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mallick
mesh_terms: D000140:Acidosis, Lactic / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000208:Acute Disease; D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008687:Metformin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008687:Metformin