Little is known about the development of acute pancreatitis as a complication of corona virus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) infection. This case report describes the presentation of acute pancreatitis in a young woman who then was diagnosed with COVID-19 infection.

An 18-year old previously healthy woman referred to Imam Raza hospital, Tabriz, Iran with a 3-day history of intermittent and crampy abdominal pain. She had serum amylase of 1288 IU/L and serum lipase of 1541 IU/L. She was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. She was instructed nil per os (NPO) and serum therapy and also was given pantoprazole, and pethidine for her pain management. The laboratory tests for assessing the etiology of acute pancreatitis were normal. Abdominal and pelvic spiral computed tomography (CT) scan revealed edematous pancreas and enhancing loculi fluid accumulation around pancreas along with the small amount of ascites fluid that all suggest acute pancreatitis. Due to the presentation of fever and COVID-19 pandemic and her potential society exposure, we tested SARS CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction which was positive. The blood C-reactive protein (CRP) level was 3+ but the chest x-ray showed no findings compatible with COVID-19. Eventually after receiving conservative therapy for her pancreatitis, she was discharged from hospital in the good general condition and she has not experienced any episodes of abdominal pain again.

In conclusion, this case highlights acute pancreatitis as a suspected complication associated with COVID-19. We still do not know about the exact mechanism of inducing acute pancreatitis by COVID-19 virus. Further research is needed to explore the possibility of causation for acute pancreatitis with COVID-19.