title: Cannabis: a rare cause of acute pancreatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Drugs of all types are related to the etiology of pancreatitis in approximately 2% of cases. However, there have been very few reports of acute pancreatitis associated with cannabis use in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This report is the first such case in our country, and involves a 22-year-old North African man who presented to our emergency department with transfixiant epigastric abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. The patient denied any past or familial medical history, was taking no medications chronically and had no history of trauma. The patient admitted to smoking one pack of cigarettes a day and occasional cannabis use, and no alcohol consumption. Biological and morphological explorations found Balthazar grade-A acute pancreatitis with no biliary dilatation or obstruction. The etiological workup was normal and, on repeat questioning, the patient admitted to being a regular and excessive user of cannabis, and to having done so 2 days before the abdominal pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of cannabis is frequently seen worldwide and even in North Africa, and regular users, especially young adults, should be informed of the risk of this possible cannabis-induced pancreatic disease. This case should also be borne in mind, although the association of cannabis with pancreatitis is problematic because of the difficulty in monitoring cannabinoids in the body and the illegality of cannabis use and, consequently, getting patients to admit to using it.
authors: Gastroenterology department, Charles Nicolle's Hospital, Medicine faculty of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia. houissa.fatma@yahoo.fr
authors: Houissa
authors: H
authors: Fatma
authors: Bouraoui
authors: B
authors: Mouna
authors: Mouelhi
authors: M
authors: Leila
authors: Debbeche
authors: D
authors: Radhouane
authors: Najjar
authors: N
authors: Taoufik
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002188:Cannabis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000150:complications*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D055815:Young Adult