Tigecycline-Induced Pancreatitis

Abstract

Purpose The intent of this case report is to heighten the awareness of the potential for tigecycline-induced pancreatitis. Case Summary A 55-year-old woman came to the emergency department with complaints of chest pain, and it was later found that the patient was bacteremic. Blood cultures grew Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus hominis. The patient was treated with several antibiotics, including tigecycline. Approximately 2 weeks following admission, the patient developed nausea, vomiting, fever, and loss of appetite. A gastroenterology consult revealed pancreatitis, and it was recommended that tigecycline be discontinued. Shortly after tigecycline discontinuation, the patient's symptoms resolved and the enzymes returned to normal. Discussion A review is presented of the available literature on mechanisms for tetracycline-induced pancreatitis based on tetracycline's interaction with a receptor on the 30s ribosomal subunit necessary for protein synthesis. Conclusion Because of the structural similarity between tigecycline and tetracycline, it is plausible that the same mechanism for tetracycline-induced pancreatitis could be the rationale for the episode of pancreatitis described in the case report presented here.