RECURRENT PERICARDIAL-EFFUSION AS A RESULT OF CHRONIC-PANCREATITIS - SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT WITH SOMATOSTATIN

We report a well-documented case of relapsing chronic calcifying pancr eatitis with recurrent pleural and pericardial effusions during episod es of clinical and biochemical relapse of the pancreatitis. Pericardia l effusions in association with pancreatitis have been reported only v ery occasionally, almost exclusively in chronic alcoholic pancreatitis with pseudocyst formation. Our successful conservative treatment cons isted of parenteral nutrition and a continuous infusion of somatostati n for 6 weeks. We discuss other reported cases and proposed mechanisms of pathogenesis.