Y. Ono et al., ACUTE-PANCREATITIS INDUCED BY HYPERCALCEMIA ASSOCIATED WITH ADULT T-CELL LEUKEMIA - A CASE-REPORT, Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology, 11(2), 1996, pp. 193-195
A 44 year old Japanese woman with adult T-cell leukaemia (ATL) was adm
itted to Kyushu University hospital to receive a course of alpha-inter
feron treatment. She experienced a sudden onset of hypercalcaemia and
epigastric pain associated with an increase in the level of pancreatic
enzymes. Her serum parathyroid hormone related protein level was abov
e normal although her high sensitive PTH level was within the normal r
ange. Ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen show
ed enlargement of the pancreas with indistinct margins and massive acc
umulation of extrapancreatic fluid. Cullen's sign was observed. A few
days after the onset of acute pancreatitis, the serum amylase level in
creased to 3400 IU/L, and the serum calcium level fell to 4.2 mg/dL fr
om 13.3 mg/dL. Her fasting blood glucose level increased to 242 mg/dL.
Although the first episode of pancreatitis appeared to respond to tre
atment, she experienced a second episode of pancreatitis accompanied b
y an elevation of the serum calcium level. These findings suggest that
acute pancreatitis was caused by hypercalcaemia associated with ATL.