Valproic Acid-Induced Severe Acute Pancreatitis with Pseudocyst Formation: Report of a Case

Cureus. 2015 Aug 8;7(8):e297. doi: 10.7759/cureus.297. eCollection 2015 Aug.

Abstract

Valproic acid is the most widely used anti-epilep-tic drug in children, and it is probably the most frequent cause of drug-induced acute pancreatitis. Outcomes for patients with valproic acid-associated pancreatitis vary from full recovery after discontinuation of the drug to severe acute pancreatitis and death. Here, we present a case of valproic acid-induced severe acute pancreatitis with pseudocyst formation in a 10-year-old girl with cerebral palsy and generalized tonic-clonic seizure. There was no resolution of the pseudocyst after discontinuation of valproic acid. The patient became symptomatic with a progressive increase in the size of the pseudocyst. She was successfully treated with cystogastrostomy and was well at 12-month follow-up.

Keywords: cystogastrostomy; pancreatitis; pseudocyst; valproic acid.

Publication types

  • Case Reports