Coronavirus Disease-19-associated Acute Pancreatitis: Report of Three Cases and Review of Case Reports

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Reports on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) associated with acute pancreatitis continue to emerge. In this series, we present three cases of acute pancreatitis associated with COVID-19 with no obvious etiology.

CASE REPORTS: The first case was a 47-year-old man who presented with severe abdominal periumbilical pain, preceded by fever and dry cough. Based on a positive COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and elevated serum amylase and lipase >3 times the upper normal limit, the diagnosis of COVID-19 and acute pancreatitis were established. The next case was a 57-year-old man with confirmed COVID-19 who developed severe epigastric pain radiating to the back and was associated with nausea and vomiting. His serum amylase and lipase were elevated >3 times the upper normal limit confirming the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. The third case was a 31-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with a few hours of severe epigastric pain radiating to the back associated with nausea and vomiting. Two days before his presentation, he had a runny nose and fever. A combination of serum amylase and lipase elevation, >3 times the upper normal limits, and a positive COVID-19 PCR test were obtained concurrently, confirming the diagnosis of COVID-19 associated acute pancreatitis. All patients were admitted to the Mesaieed Hospital COVID-19 facility and received treatment for COVID-19 according to our local guidelines, while acute pancreatitis was treated conservatively. All three patients were discharged in good condition.

CONCLUSION: This case series suggests a possible correlation between COVID-19 and acute pancreatitis.