Can pancreatic steatosis affect exocrine functions of pancreas?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pancreatic steatosis (PS) is a generally used term to define accumulation of fat in the pancreas. In theory PS may be able to affect the exocrine function of pancreas. In this study we aimed to determine the effect of PS on exocrine pancreas function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-three patients with PS determined by 3 tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 48 patients without PS were included in this study. Patients with PS were classified as group 1 and control patients were classified as group 2. Fecal elastase-1 levels were determined. Fecal elastase-1 levels <200 µg/g were defined as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). Patients with PS were further grouped according to severity and anatomic distribution of steatosis based on findings of 3 tesla MRI. RESULTS: Fecal elastase-1 levels was significantly lower in group 1 compared to group 2 (319.76±45.7 vs 549.31±69.4, respectively, p=0.003). Proportion of patients with EPI was significantly higher in group 1 than group 2 (35.5% vs 12% p=0.042). There were no significant differences in terms of severity or the anatomic distribution of PS in patients with PS with EPI based on MRI (p=0.052, p=0.198, p=0.405) Conclusion: Current study demonstrates that PS can cause EPI.

An Unusual Reason for Gastric Variceal Hemorrhage: Wandering Spleen.

Wandering spleen is the displacement of the spleen due to the loss or weakening of the ligaments of the spleen and is seen very rarely with an incidence of less than 0.5 %. It can cause portal hypertension, but gastric variceal hemorrhage is a quite rare condition within the spectrum of this uncommon disease. We report a 22-year-old woman with wandering spleen presenting with life-threatening gastric variceal hemorrhage. Her diagnosis was made by computerized tomography. Endoscopic therapy was not adequate to stop the bleeding, and urgent splenectomy was performed. After surgery she has been well with no symptoms until now.

Anticoagulant-induced intramural duodenal haematoma presenting with upper-gastrointestinal haemorrhage.

Warfarin is an anticoagulant agent known to have a common complication, bleeding. Intramural intestinal haematoma is an uncommon incidence of warfarin-induced haemorrhage. Abdominal pain is its most frequent symptom and presentation with upper-gastrointestinal haemorrhage is rarely seen. Here, we present a 67-year-old male who was admitted to the hospital with active upper-gastrointestinal haemorrhage. In this case, the cause of bleeding has been attributed to duodenal intramural haematoma due to warfarin overuse.

A Male Patient With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Presenting With Fulminant Hepatitis.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with unknown etiology. Although liver dysfunction is rare in SLE, 25 - 50% of patients may develop abnormal liver functions. Here, we described a case presented as fulminant hepatitis and diagnosed as SLE.