Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug-induced Acute Pancreatitis: A Case Report

Abstract

Ibuprofen-induced acute pancreatitis, a diagnosis secondary to the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), is an extremely rare occurrence. Common culprits, such as gallbladder obstruction, alcohol consumption, infection, direct trauma, and medication (i.e. NSAIDs), can be attributable to the majority of cases reported. This case report describes a patient with acute pancreatitis that developed due to a three-week course of daily ibuprofen use for chronic shoulder pain. Alternative causes of acute pancreatitis were excluded through the patient's clinical history, laboratory findings, and diagnostic imaging. Although a rare risk factor, our aim is to further demonstrate that patients with chronic NSAIDs use can develop these complications and this should be considered among the differential diagnoses.