[Concomitant pancreatitis in hepatic coma]

Abstract

Increased levels of serum amylase were found in 14 out of 34 patients (41%) with coma due to acute liver failure, in 8 out of 55 patients (14%) with hepatic encephalopathy, and in 5 out of 10 patients with a mixed pathogenesis. In 4 patients of the first group (11.7%) and 4 of the second group (7%) pancreatitis was diagnosed at post mortem. The pathogenesis of pancreatitis concomitant with liver failure is unclear. Virus infection and intoxication may do damage to both organs; hemodynamic factors, coagulation defects, and derangements of metabolism may play a role as well.