PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Hazel V. Duncan AU - Gloria Achara TI - A Rare Initial Manifestation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus—Acute Pancreatitis: Case Report and Review of the Literature AID - 10.3122/jabfm.16.4.334 DP - 2003 Jul 01 TA - The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice PG - 334--338 VI - 16 IP - 4 4099 - http://www.jabfm.org/content/16/4/334.short 4100 - http://www.jabfm.org/content/16/4/334.full SO - J Am Board Fam Med2003 Jul 01; 16 AB - Background: Acute pancreatitis as the initial manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been documented only nine times in the English literature.Methods: We report the case of a 25-year-old woman patient with fever, abdominal pain and vomiting, elevated levels of pancreatic enzymes, and various other laboratory abnormalities. Further investigation led to a diagnosis of SLE. A literature search, using the key words “systemic lupus erythematosus” and “pancreatitis” was undertaken.Results and Conclusions: The treatment of SLE pancreatitis is steroids, which is somewhat controversial because steroids have been implicated in the cause. SLE can involve any organ system. It is important that the family physician, who treats patients as a whole, rules out SLE when a straightforward diagnosis is associated with inexplicable multiple concomitant abnormalities.