ACUTE-PANCREATITIS IN A PRISONER WITH AIDS - BUGS OR DRUGS

Acute pancreatitis has been the cause of death in several patients wit h AIDS and AIDS-related complex (ARC). Documented etiologies include s everal microorganisms and adverse drug reactions. We present a case of an HIV-positive prison inmate who died of acute necrotizing pancreati tis. Although he was infected with Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare, it is more likely that 2',3'-dideoxyinosine, an antiretroviral agent, induced pancreatitis. It is important to obtain a thorough pharmaceut ical history iii HIV-positive patients. Fatal medicinal reactions may result in death in ARC or AIDS patients. Documentation of opportunisti c infection in AIDS patients may prove difficult and expensive, but co sts may be minimized and diagnostic accuracy optimized if appropriate tissue samples, including lymph nodes, are submitted for histologic an alysis.