Acute pancreatitis complicated by infarction of the spleen and spinal cord
Wei, S.C.; Kao, J.H.; Lee, W.Y.; Lin, J.T.; Wang, T.H.
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association 96(9): 754-757
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0929-6646 PMID: 9308332 Document Number: 472846
Complications of acute pancreatitis may include local pancreatic necrosis with pseudocyst or abscess formation, and extrapancreatic manifestations such as pulmonary, renal, hepatic, endocrine, and coagulation abnormalities. Coagulation abnormalities associated with acute pancreatitis usually present as thrombophlebitis or widespread microthrombi; most occur in the venous or capillary circulation. We report a rare case of acute pancreatitis complicated by pseudocyst formation, splenic vein thrombosis, splenic infarction, and spinal cord infarction, which resulted in paraplegia. An association between acute pancreatitis and spinal cord infarction has not been reported before.