Chronic pancreatitis: a sequela of acute fatty liver of pregnancy
Wichian Apiratpracha, Eric M. Yoshida, Scudamore H. Charles, Alan A. Weiss and Michael F. Byrne
Vancouver, Canada
Author Affiliations: Division of Gastroenterology (Apiratpracha W, Yoshida EM, Weiss AA and Byrne MF); and Division of Surgery (Charles SH), Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada Corresponding Author: Michael F. Byrne, MD, UBC Division of Gastro-enterology, 5135-2775, Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada (Tel: +1-604-875-5640; Fax: +1-604-875-5447; Email: michael.byrne@vch.ca)
BACKGROUND: Chronic pancreatitis following acute fatty liver of pregnancy is rarely reported.
METHODS: We treated a 34-year-old woman who developed acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) after delivery by caesarean section at 32 weeks of gestation. AFLP was complicated by acute pancreatitis and multiple organ failure. The management of the disease was primarily supportive. She recovered from acute fulminant liver failure and multi-organ failure, apart from the development of symptomatic chronic pancreatitis thereafter.
RESULTS: Investigations failed to identify any other causes of chronic pancreatitis. The patient responded very well to pancreatic enzyme supplement for the treatment of steatorrhoea.
CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first report of chronic pancreatitis as a consequence of multi-organ dysfunction caused by AFLP.
2008, Vol. 7 
