Acute pancreatitis associated with viral hepatitis: A report of six cases with review of literature

Association of hepatitis viruses with acute pancreatitis in the setting of nonfulminant viral hepatitis is rare. We report six cases of nonfulminant v iral hepatitis complicated by acute pancreatitis, including the first docum ented case of hepatitis E virus (HEV) associated acute pancreatitis. The ot her five patients had acute viral hepatitis caused by hepatitis A infection . Besides features of viral hepatitis, the presence of typical abdominal pa in, high serum amylase, and ultrasound or CT scan features suggested the di agnosis of acute pancreatitis. This complication generally developed in the initial phase of the hepatitic illness. All of the patients had mild to mo derate pancreatitis that recovered uneventfully with conservative treatment . (Am J Gastroenterol. 1999;94:2292-2295. (C) 1999 by Am. Coll. of Gastroen terology).