Hospitalization For Acute Pancreatitis Research Articles

Crystal Clear: A Unique Clue to Diagnosis in a Patient With Recurrent Nausea and Vomiting

Question: A 36-year-old African-American woman with a history of hypertension, asthma, and ongoing tobacco use presented to our hospital with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and intermittent diarrhea. She had recently been treated for a breast abscess with trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole and subsequently admitted to another hospital for acute pancreatitis with lipase of 1314 U/L. Her symptoms improved on discharge; however, she continued to have diarrhea. On admission to our hospital 3 days later, her physical examination was only notable for moderate abdominal tenderness to palpation in the epigastric region without peritoneal signs, and her lipase was elevated at 582 U/L. She was also noted to have a peripheral eosinophilia of 11.3% (total white blood cell count, 7.96 K/mm; absolute eosinophil count, 900 K/mm), initially attributed to recent sulfa exposure, which had been hypothesized to cause her pancreatitis given normal hepatobiliary imaging and no history of alcohol intake. The patient’s nausea and vomiting improved with limited oral intake. She did, however, experience intermittent loose bowel movements. Stool studies for ova and parasites were sent. A trichrome stain of stool is shown in Figure A. What is the diagnosis? See the Gastroenterology web site (www.gastrojournal.org) for more information on submitting your favorite image to Clinical Challenges and Images in GI.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for diabetes mellitus: a role in cardiovascular disease.

Diabetes mellitus, defined as a fasting plasma glucose of ≥126 mg/dL or a glycosylated hemoglobin A1c level (HbA1c) of ≥6.5%, afflicts ≈12.9% of adults in the United States and nearly 285 million adults worldwide.1,2 Diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, independently conferring a 2-fold excess risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.3 Macrovascular events in diabetes mellitus remain the leading cause of mortality, and the burden of cardiovascular disease attributable to diabetes mellitus has increased over the past decade.4 An increase in the prevalence of obesity has contributed to the rise in diabetes mellitus. Additionally, obesity independently increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes mellitus.5 Although strict glycemic control unequivocally reduces the microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus, the macrovascular benefits of intensive therapy have been difficult to establish, with conflicting results from large clinical trials.6–9 Multifactorial strategies are recommended to reduce cardiovascular risk in diabetes mellitus through enhanced glycemic control, blood pressure reduction, lipid management, weight loss, and physical activity.10 Unfortunately, despite aggressive interventions for hyperglycemia, <50% of patients achieve standard HbA1c targets with conventional therapy.11 Polypharmacy is required to achieve glycemic control in the majority of patients within 3 years of diagnosis.12 Although combinations of drug classes can synergistically target multiple pathophysiological defects, novel therapies are required to manage diabetes mellitus and mitigate cardiovascular risks. Dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitor and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist incretin therapies were developed to complement conventional treatment options for diabetes mellitus. Despite promising initial reports of cardioprotective effects, DPP-IV inhibitors have failed to demonstrate improved cardiovascular outcomes in large clinical trials.13–15 Randomized studies to evaluate cardiovascular outcomes associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists are currently underway. This review presents …

THU0022 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Increases Risk of Mortality among Patients with Acute Pancreatitis: Findings from A US National Hospital Registry

BackgroundAcute pancreatitis is a rare presentation among systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. However, the association of SLE and clinical outcomes among acute pancreatitis has not been studied.ObjectivesTo study the effect...

Pancreatitis in Severe Hypertriglyceridemia: Association of Gene Variants in Lipoprotein Lipase and Serine Protease Pathways with Increased Risk of Recurrent Hospitalizations*

Lead Author’s Financial Disclosures: None Study Funding: Yes Funding Sources: This study was supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research team grant (# CTP-82941). Background/Synopsis: There are important inter-individual variations in the incidence and severity of acute pancreatitis in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia. Several genes involved in triglyceride-rich lipoprotein metabolism or serine proteases pathways are known to influence the risk of pancreatitis. Objective/Purpose: To evaluate the association between genes regulating serine proteases, chymotrypsin C (CTRC) and serine peptidase inhibitor kazal type1 (SPINK1), and recurrence of hospitalizations for acute pancreatitis or severe abdominal pain in patients with Lipoprotein Lipase deficiency (LPLD), a rare and extreme monogenic model of severe hypertriglyceridemia and pancreatitis. Methods: The CTRC and SPINK1 genes promoter and coding regions sequencing has been performed in a sample of 38 LPLD adults (22 men and 16 women) and 100 controls (53 men and 47 women). Estimation of the association of CTRC and SPINK1 gene variants or combinations of variants with history of hospitalizations for pancreatitis or acute abdominal pain in LPLD was investigated using non parametric analyses with correction for multiple testing and logistic regression models controlling for age, gender, family history and life habits. Results: In LPLD (mean age 50 y 6 16), 18 individuals (47%) presented a history of $5 hospitalizations for acute pancreatitis or severe abdominal pain whereas 8 (21%) had not yet been hospitalized once for this condition. Gene sequencing followed by genotype-stratified analyses of the CTRC and SPINK1 genes in LPLD and controls revealed a positive association between recurrence of hospitalizations and the rs545634 (CTRC) rs11319 (SPINK1) combination (OR 5 41.4 [CI: 2.0-848.0]; p50.016). In all models, a positive family history of pancreatitis was a significant predictor of recurrent hospitalizations independently of the contribution of SPINK1 or CTRC (p,0.001). Conclusion: These results suggest that a positive family history of pancreatitis and genetic markers in the serine protease pathways could be associated with a risk of recurrent hospitalization for acute pancreatitis in severe hypertriglyceridemia due to LPLD. 121 Association Between Fasting Triglycerides and Presence of Fasting Chylomicrons in Patients with Severe Hypertriglyceridemia

A Population-Based Evaluation of Readmissions After First Hospitalization for Acute Pancreatitis

This study aimed to evaluate the burden and pattern of pancreatitis-related readmissions after index hospitalization for acute pancreatitis (AP). We identified all unique white or black Allegheny County residents with first hospital admission for AP from 1996 to 2005 using the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council data set. The final study population consisted of patients (n = 6010) who survived index admission and had follow-up data on readmissions. The etiology was determined using associated diagnosis codes. We analyzed pancreatitis-related readmissions until the third quarter of 2007 (median follow-up time, 39 months). The absolute risk and total burden of readmissions were 21.9% and 2947 for primary AP, respectively, 5.8% and 812 for primary chronic pancreatitis (CP), respectively, and 32.3% and 6612 for any pancreatitis diagnosis, respectively. Patients with alcohol etiology (etiology on index admission in 20.3%; responsible for 41.6%-50.4% readmissions) and subsequent diagnosis of CP (any CP diagnosis, 12.8%; responsible for 73% readmissions) accounted for a disproportionately higher fraction of readmissions. Readmission risk decreased with increasing age. A small fraction of patients accounted for most readmissions. Readmission after AP is influenced by demographics, etiology, and subsequent CP diagnosis. Future studies should focus on understanding the factors driving readmissions in high-risk individuals to develop strategies for reducing pancreatitis-related readmissions and health care costs.

Association of CTRC and SPINK1 gene variants with recurrent hospitalizations for pancreatitis or acute abdominal pain in lipoprotein lipase deficiency.

Background: There are important inter-individual variations in the incidence and severity of acute pancreatitis in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia. Several genes involved in triglyceride-rich lipoprotein metabolism or serine proteases pathways are known to influence the risk of pancreatitis.Aim: To evaluate the association between genes regulating serine proteases, chymotrypsin C (CTRC) and serine peptidase inhibitor kazal type1 (SPINK1), and recurrence of hospitalizations for acute pancreatitis or severe abdominal pain in patients with Lipoprotein Lipase Deficiency (LPLD), a rare and extreme monogenic model of severe hypertriglyceridemia and pancreatitis.Method: The CTRC and SPINK1 genes promoter and coding regions sequencing has been performed in a sample of 38 LPLD adults (22 men and 16 women) and 100 controls (53 men and 47 women). Estimation of the association of CTRC and SPINK1 gene variants or combinations of variants with history of hospitalizations for pancreatitis or acute abdominal pain in LPLD was investigated using non-parametric analyses with correction for multiple testing and logistic regression models controlling for age, gender, family history, and life habits.Results: Gene sequencing followed by genotype-stratified analyses of the CTRC and SPINK1 genes in LPLD and controls revealed a positive association between recurrence of hospitalizations and the rs545634 (CTRC)—rs11319 (SPINK1) combination [OR = 41.4 (CI: 2.0–848.0); p = 0.016]. In all models, a positive family history of pancreatitis was a significant predictor of recurrent hospitalizations independently of the contribution of SPINK1 or CTRC (p < 0.001).Conclusion: These results suggest that a positive family history of pancreatitis and genetic markers in the serine protease pathways could be associated with a risk of recurrent hospitalization for acute pancreatitis in severe hypertriglyceridemia due to LPLD.

A randomized controlled trial of home monitoring versus hospitalization for mild non-alcoholic acute interstitial pancreatitis: A pilot study

Background/ObjectivesAcute pancreatitis (AP) is a disease typically requiring in-hospital treatment. We conducted a trial to assess the feasibility of early discharge from the hospital for patients with mild non-alcoholic acute pancreatitis (NAAP). MethodsEighty-four patients with mild NAAP were randomized to home or hospital groups after a short hospital stay (≤24 h). AP was defined by the revised Atlanta criteria. Mild AP was defined as an Imrie score≤5 and a harmless acute pancreatitis score (HAPS)≤2 in the first 24-h of presentation. A nurse visited all patients in the home group on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th days. All patients presented for follow-up in clinic on the 7th, 14th, and 30th days. The primary outcome was the time to resolution of pain. Secondary outcomes evaluated included time to resumption of an oral diet, 30 day hospital readmission rate as well as the total costs associated with either approach to care. ResultsThere was no difference between the groups with regards to demographics, prognostic severity scores, symptoms, and biliary findings. No patients developed organ failure, pancreatic necrosis, or died in either group. Time to the resolution of pain and resumption of solid food intake were similar. Three (3.6%) patients required readmission within 30 days, 1 from home and 2 from the hospital groups. The total cost was significantly less in home group ($139 ± 73 vs. $951 ± 715,p < 0.001). ConclusionsMild NAAP can be safely treated at home with regular visits by a nurse under the supervision of a physician. Widespread adoption of this practice may result in large cost savings.

Pancreatic pseudocystocolonic fistula treated without surgical or endoscopic intervention

We report here a case of pancreatic pseudocystocolic fistula that was treated without surgical or endoscopic intervention. A 76-year-old woman, presenting with a fever and epigastric pain, was referred to our institution. Three months prior to this admission, the patient had been admitted to the hospital for acute pancreatitis. Abdominal computerized tomography (CT) revealed a 9 cm pseudocyst containing air, and a fistular opening was observed via colonoscopy. After colonoscopy, the abdominal pain was slightly improved, the fever subsided and laboratory results showed decreased C-reactive protein levels. The observed improvement was likely due to the cleansing of the bowel, which induced spontaneous drainage from the pseudocyst into the colon. Antibiotic therapy was administered and daily bowel cleansing was performed using a polyethylene glycol solution. After three weeks, a follow-up CT revealed that the size of the pseudocyst had decreased significantly from 9 to 5.3 cm. In addition, laboratory tests were improved. The patient was able to resume a normal diet and was discharged in good overall health from the hospital, without aggravation of the symptoms. A colonoscopy performed 3 mo later and a follow-up CT performed 6 mo later confirmed that both the fistula and pseudocyst had completely disappeared.

Incretin therapies and risk of hospital admission for acute pancreatitis in an unselected population of European patients with type 2 diabetes: a case-control study

Previous studies have yielded conflicting results about the association between incretin therapies and acute pancreatitis. We aimed to compare the occurrence of acute pancreatitis in a population of patients with type 2 diabetes who received incretins compared with those who received other antidiabetic treatment. In our population-based matched case-control study, we extracted information from an administrative database from Piedmont, Italy (containing data for 4·4 million inhabitants). From a dataset of 282,429 patients receiving treatment with antidiabetic drugs for type 2 diabetes, we identified 1003 cases older than 41 years who had been admitted to hospital for acute pancreatitis between Jan 1, 2008, and Dec 31, 2012, and 4012 controls who were matched for sex, age, and time of start of antidiabetic therapy. We compared incretin exposure in cases and controls with a conditional logistic regression model, expressed as odds ratios (ORs [95% CI]). We adjusted all analyses for risk factors of acute pancreatitis, as ascertained by hospital discharge records, and concomitant use of metformin or glibenclamide. The mean age of cases and controls (72·2 years [SD 11·1]) was high, as expected in an unselected diabetic population in Europe. After adjustment for available confounders, use of incretins in the 6 months before hospital admission was not associated with increased risk of acute pancreatitis (OR 0·98, 95% CI 0·69-1·38; p=0·8958). Our findings suggest that, in an unselected population, use of incretins is not associated with an increased risk of acute pancreatitis. Larger studies are needed to clarify whether age or type of incretin therapy could affect the risk of acute pancreatitis in patients with type 2 diabetes. Chaira Medica Association, Chieri, Italy.

Decreasing Mortality From Acute Biliary Diseases That Require Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: A Nationwide Cohort Study

The management of acute biliary diseases often involves endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), but it is not clear whether this technique reduces mortality. We investigated whether mortality from acute biliary diseases that require ERCP has been reduced over time and explored factors associated with mortality. We conducted a cohort study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (1998-2008). We identified hospitalizations for choledocholithiasis, cholangitis, and acute pancreatitis that involved ERCP. Multivariate analyses were used to determine the effects of time period, patient factors, hospital characteristics, features of the ERCP procedure, and types of cholecystectomies on mortality, length of stay, and costs. From 1998 to 2008 there were 166,438 admissions for acute biliary conditions that met the inclusion criteria, corresponding to more than 800,000 patients nationwide. During this interval, mortality decreased from 1.1% to 0.6% (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6-0.8), diagnostic ERCPs decreased from 28.8% to 10.0%, hospitals performing fewer than 100 ERCPs per year decreased from 38.4% to 26.9%, open cholecystectomies decreased from 12.4% to 5.8%, and unsuccessful ERCPs decreased from 6.3% to 3.2% (P < .0001 for all trends). Unsuccessful ERCP (aOR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.4-2.2), open cholecystectomy (aOR, 3.4; 95% CI 2.7-4.3), cholangitis (aOR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.5-2.3), older age, having Medicare health insurance, and comorbidity were associated with increased mortality. In-hospital mortality from acute biliary conditions requiring ERCP in the United States has decreased over time. Reductions in the rate of unsuccessful ERCPs and open cholecystectomies are associated with this trend.

The faces of pharmacy: Students and pharmacists stepping forward

The faces of pharmacy: Students and pharmacists stepping forward

809 A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial of Home Monitoring Versus Hospitalization for Mild Non-Alcoholic Acute Interstitial Pancreatitis

809 A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial of Home Monitoring Versus Hospitalization for Mild Non-Alcoholic Acute Interstitial Pancreatitis

Clinical Management of Patients With Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is the leading cause of hospitalization for gastrointestinal disorders in the United States. As rates of hospitalization for acute pancreatitis continue to increase, so does demand for effective management. We review approaches to best manage patients with acute pancreatitis, covering diagnosis, risk and prognostic factors, treatment, and complications, considering recommendations from current practice guidelines.

Glucagonlike Peptide 1–Based Therapies and Risk of Hospitalization for Acute Pancreatitis in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Acute pancreatitis has significant morbidity and mortality. Previous studies have raised the possibility that glucagonlike peptide 1 (GLP-1)-based therapies, including a GLP-1 mimetic (exenatide) and a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor (sitagliptin phosphate), may increase the risk of acute pancreatitis. To test whether GLP-1-based therapies such as exenatide and sitagliptin are associated with an increased risk of acute pancreatitis. We used conditional logistic regression to analyze the data. Population-based case-control study. A large administrative database in the United States from February 1, 2005, through December 31, 2008. Adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus aged 18 to 64 years. We identified 1269 hospitalized cases with acute pancreatitis using a validated algorithm and 1269 control subjects matched for age category, sex, enrollment pattern, and diabetes complications. Hospitalization for acute pancreatitis. The mean age of included individuals was 52 years, and 57.45% were male. Cases were significantly more likely than controls to have hypertriglyceridemia (12.92% vs 8.35%), alcohol use (3.23% vs 0.24%), gallstones (9.06% vs 1.34), tobacco abuse (16.39% vs 5.52%), obesity (19.62% vs 9.77%), biliary and pancreatic cancer (2.84% vs 0%), cystic fibrosis (0.79% vs 0%), and any neoplasm (29.94% vs 18.05%). After adjusting for available confounders and metformin hydrochloride use, current use of GLP-1-based therapies within 30 days (adjusted odds ratio, 2.24 [95% CI, 1.36-3.68]) and recent use past 30 days and less than 2 years (2.01 [1.37-3.18]) were associated with significantly increased odds of acute pancreatitis relative to the odds in nonusers. In this administrative database study of US adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, treatment with the GLP-1-based therapies sitagliptin and exenatide was associated with increased odds of hospitalization for acute pancreatitis.

Antiangiogenic Agents, Chemotherapy, and the Treatment of Metastatic Transitional Cell Carcinoma

A 69-year-old man with a 100 pack-year history of smoking developed gross hematuria. His medical history included hypertension, a silent myocardial infarction, and a cerebrovascular accident complicated by seizures. Cystoscopy and biopsy showed a 4-cm mass at the right ureteral orifice positive for a high-grade papillary transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) with muscularis propria invasion (Fig 1). The computed tomography (CT)/positron emission tomography (PET) scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis showed hydronephrosis and hydroureter with marked cortical thinning and multiple bilateral PET-avid pulmonary nodules, with the largest in the left upper lung measuring 3.0 × 2.5 cm (Figs 2A, 3A), biopsy of which showed invasive high-grade urothelial carcinoma. The patient consented to join a clinical trial for metastatic TCC (USON [US Oncology Network study] 06040) involving treatment with gemcitabine, cisplatin, and sunitinib (GCS) 37.5 mg per day. Four days later, he experienced a 10-day hospitalization for acute pancreatitis and neutropenia. Sunitinib was discontinued, and he completed four additional cycles of GC. CT/PET showed that the right ureteral mass and all lung nodules had regressed or disappeared (Figs 2B, 3B). The largest remaining lung nodule at 1.4 cm showed no metabolic activity. He underwent a radical cystoprostatectomy and right nephroureterectomy, disclosing residual high-grade urothelial carcinoma infiltrating the full thickness of the ureteral wall. There was carcinoma in situ of the bladder, and 42 nodes were negative for cancer. The surgery was followed by a small, uncomplicated myocardial infarction. A scheduled left thoracotomy to remove the remaining nodule was cancelled. No additional chemotherapy was administered, and the patient remains free of recurrence 2 years from initiation of chemotherapy. The 1.4-cm nodule has calcified and remains stable and metabolically inactive. He has no sequelae of chemotherapy or surgery, with a creatinine level of 1.35 mg/dL.

A case of early duodenal cancer observed during follow-up of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm

Duodenal cancer is a rare disease that accounts for 0.3％ of all primary gastrointestinal tract cancers. We report the case of an elderly patient diagnosed with and treated for early duodenal cancer detected during follow-up after resection of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). An 82-year-old man was diagnosed with IPMN during hospitalization for acute pancreatitis in 2004 and underwent pancreatic resection. In 2008, an elevated lesion measuring 15 mm in size was detected at the anterior wall of the duodenal bulb during gastroscopy. A mucosal lesion was also noted during endoscopic ultrasonography. Histopathological examination of a biopsy specimen identified well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. On the basis of these findings, endoscopic mucosal resection was performed. Although the tumor was resected in two parts, no residual malignancy was noted. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen revealed a 20×18 mm well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, pT1a (m), med, INF-α, ly (-), v (-), pHMx, pVM0. Gastrointestinal endoscopy performed two months after surgery and in 2013 did not show any obvious signs of tumor recurrence. IPMN is sometimes reported to occur in combination with cancers of other organs. However, to our knowledge this is the first case report of early duodenal cancer occurring in a patient with IPMN.

Exenatide Therapy and the Risk of Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Cancer in a Privately Insured Population

Postmarketing reports have linked exenatide use with acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, but a definitive relationship has yet to be established. We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of patients with type 2 diabetes with employer-provided health insurance from 2007 to 2009. Multivariate models estimated the association between exenatide use and acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. We required at least 1 year of exenatide exposure in the pancreatic cancer analysis. Sensitivity analyses were conducted that quasirandomized exenatide use based on patient out-of-pocket costs. Among 268,561 patients included in the acute pancreatitis analysis, only 2.6% used exenatide. Hospitalization for acute pancreatitis was rare (0.247% of patients). In unadjusted and adjusted analyses, patients who did not use exenatide were more likely to be hospitalized for acute pancreatitis (0.249% vs. 0.196% in unadjusted analysis), but the difference was not statistically significant in either analysis (P = 0.22 and P = 0.70, respectively). Among 209,306 patients in the pancreatic cancer analysis, 0.070% were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and 0.88% had at least 1 year of continuous exenatide exposure prior to the diagnosis. Those with exenatide exposure had higher rates of pancreatic cancer compared with those without (0.081% vs. 0.070% in unadjusted analysis). In both unadjusted and adjusted analyses, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.80 and P = 0.46, respectively). In sensitivity analyses, results were similar. We found no association between exenatide use and either hospitalization for acute pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer in a large sample of privately insured U.S. patients.

Sa1496 Two Decade Overview of the Nationwide Trend of Acute Pancreatitis Hospitalization, in-Hospital Mortality Rate and Predictive Factors of in-Hospital Mortality

Sa1496 Two Decade Overview of the Nationwide Trend of Acute Pancreatitis Hospitalization, in-Hospital Mortality Rate and Predictive Factors of in-Hospital Mortality

Acute-Onset Dyspnea and Superior Vena Cava Syndrome During Dialysis

A 30-YEAR-OLD WOMAN with end-stage renal disease secondary to polycystic kidney disease presented to an outside hospital for acute pancreatitis. While receiving hemodialysis through a left femoral loop graft, she had acute facial swelling and respiratory distress that required control of her airway. A tracheostomy had to be emergently performed after several failed attempts at tracheal intubation. The patient was transferred to the authors' hospital for the treatment of ongoing management of pancreatitis and respiratory distress.

Polysplenia Syndrome with Congenital Agenesis of Dorsal Pancreas Presenting as Acute Pancreatitis and the Role of Endoscopic Ultrasonography in Its Diagnosis

A 49-year-old female was admitted to our hospital for acute pancreatitis. The abdomen CT scan incidentally showed midline liver with hepatomegaly, centrally located gallbladder, pancreas truncation, right sided small bowel, left sided large bowel, interruption of the inferior vena cava with azygos continuation, preduodenal portal vein, and multiple spleens in the left upper quadrant. In MRCP, the head of pancreas was enlarged and short main pancreatic duct without accessory duct was showed. EUS revealed enlarged ventral pancreas with a main pancreatic duct of normal caliber, absence of the accessory pancreatic duct and the dorsal pancreas. She was diagnosed as polysplenia syndrome with agenesis of dorsal pancreas. It is a rare congenital anomaly frequently associated with various visceral anomalies including multiple spleens, impaired visceral lateralization, congenital heart diseases, gastrointestinal abnormalities and azygos continuation of the inferior vena cava. We report a case of polysplenia syndrome with agenesis of dorsal pancreas presenting acute pancreatitis.