Octreotide-induced acute pancreatitis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Unremitting diarrhea is a common problem in patients with AIDS. We have reported the case of such a patient who was treated with the somatostatin analogue octreotide for chronic diarrhea and who had acute pancreatitis as a consequence of this therapy. We postulate that the possible mechanism for the pathogenesis of this pancreatic damage was octreotide-induced prevention of pancreatic exocrine secretion. We believe this acted as a "physiologic gallstone", inducing an attack of acute pancreatitis.