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Pancreatitis causing death in bulimia nervosa
Author(s) -
Birmingham Carl Laird,
Boone Sharon
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.20026
Subject(s) - pancreatitis , bulimia nervosa , vomiting , acute pancreatitis , abdominal pain , nausea , gastroenterology , medicine , amylase , eating disorders , psychiatry , chemistry , biochemistry , enzyme
Objective We report the case of a 19‐year‐old woman with bulimia nervosa who died of acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis. Our objective is to raise awareness that because the symptoms of both conditions are very similar, the pre‐existence of an eating disorder should not distract physicians from the possibility that potentially lethal acute pancreatitis may coexist. Method The study includes autopsy results and a review of the literature. Results Pancreatitis usually presents with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Discussion In patients with eating disorders who may already have exhibited these symptoms pancreatitis may not be considered. Elevated serum amylase values may occur in subjects with bulimia nervosa without pancreatitis. If the serum amylase value is elevated, pancreatitis can be confirmed by measuring the levels of serum lipase, trypsinogen, pancreatic isoenzyme of amylase, or by abdominal computerized tomography (CT). © 2004 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 36: 234–237, 2004.