A case of acute pancreatitis induced by voriconazole during treatment of cryptococcal meningitis

Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2022 Feb;88(4):1925-1929. doi: 10.1111/bcp.14957. Epub 2021 Jul 9.

Abstract

Acute pancreatitis refers to pancreatic enzyme activation caused by a variety of aetiologies, and mainly characterized by local inflammation of the pancreas, with or without diseases of other organ function changes. The main clinical features are abdominal pain and elevated trypsin levels in the blood. Common causes of acute pancreatitis include cholelithiasis, alcohol consumption and hyperlipidaemia, among which drugs are considered to be one of the rare causes of pancreatitis. The patient in this case was a 16-year-old adolescent female who developed acute severe pancreatitis during the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis with voriconazole for 35 days. Following diagnosis that pancreatitis was induced by voriconazole, the drug was immediately stopped and the patient was discharged after symptomatic treatment. The phenomenon of voriconazole-induced pancreatitis is extremely rare, but we hope that this report can arouse greater attention and vigilance of the majority of medical personnel to improve the safety of patients' medication, especially for children or minors.

Keywords: cryptococcal meningitis; pancreatitis; voriconazole.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Meningitis, Cryptococcal* / complications
  • Pancreas
  • Pancreatitis* / chemically induced
  • Pancreatitis* / drug therapy
  • Voriconazole / adverse effects

Substances

  • Voriconazole