Bactrim causing Acute Pancreatitis? to Holly

[Guest guest]

Dear Holly,

You wrote:

>It didn't seem to clear up so on Feb. 13th they gave me Bactrim which is a

sulfa drug. <

>No one seems to think that the Bactrim caused this. <

> Any comments? I keep waiting for someone to say. " Ah Hah... " <

Ah Hah.....You'll quickly find that I'm a very curious person. I put the words

" Bactrim " and " Pancreatitis " into my search engine and came up with several

references to Bactrim noted as a cause of Acute Pancreatitis. I've pasted just

one of the articles below, yet there are many more that were very interesting.

It is rare, but it's happened. They say that the medication has caused

chemically induced acute pancreatitis.

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Pancreatitis Secondary to Bactrim

7/14/98 (K. Kokko)

Question: What is the incidence of pancreatitis resulting from use of Bactrim?

<1>

[use LINK to view the full text]

Unique Identifier 98113648

Authors: Aboulafia DM.

Institution: Section of Hematology/Oncology, Virginia Mason Medical Center,

Seattle, Washington 98111

Title: Acute pancreatitis. A fatal complication of AIDS therapy. [Review] [46

refs]

Source: Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology. 25(4)640-5, 1997 Dec.

Abstract: Pancreatic disease in patients with AIDS often is so mild that the

diagnosis may be missed. The pancreas can be affected by systemic illness

caused by opportunistic infections, Kaposi's sarcoma, or lymphoma. More

commonly, drugs used to treat patients infected with human

immunodeficiency virus can cause pancreatitis and result in significant

morbidity and, rarely, mortality. We report one such case in a 47-year-old

patient with AIDS in whom pancreatitis developed while taking 2',3'-

dideoxyinosine (ddI). His condition improved on ddI withdrawal, but he

suffered a fatal relapse while receiving 2',3'-dideoxycytidine and trimethoprim-

sulfamethoxazole. This case gives me the opportunity to review the literature

regarding the incidence, causes, and diagnosis of human immunodeficiency

virus-associated pancreatitis. [References: 46]

<2>

[use LINK to view the full text]

Unique Identifier 93030987

Authors: Bartels RH. van der Spek JA. Oosten HR.

Institution: Department of Neurosurgery, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital,

Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Title: Acute pancreatitis due to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim.

Source: Southern Medical Journal. 85(10)1006-7, 1992 Oct.

Abstract: We have reported a case of sulfonamide-induced acute pancreatitis.

A review of the literature showed only eight previously reported cases.

Adverse reactions to sulfonamides are well known, but acute pancreatitis is a

very serious complication. If evidence of pancreatic involvement occurs

during sulfonamide therapy, the medication should be discontinued

immediately and, if necessary, be replaced by an alternative. Other causes of

pancreatitis must be excluded.

[litsrch98/yr98foot.html]

*************************

As you can see by the first reference, that case was fatal. You're fortunate

that

you're here today telling us about your history. What do you think? Check

your search engine for more information.

The url for this information is:

http://www.emory. edu/WHSCL/grady/amreport/litsrch98/p980714a.html

Think good thoughts,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep.

PAI

Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or opinion,

and should not be substituted for consultation with a medical professional.