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International Journal of Clinical Pediatrics

Case Report

Volume 9, Number 4, December 2020, pages 125-129

Elevated Lipase Associated With COVID-19 Possibly due to Acute Pancreatitis in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report

Since being declared a pandemic, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become the subject of intense study in understanding how it presents clinically in the pediatric population [1]. In one case surveillance study of 12,689 children aged 10 - 19 years, fever and cough were reported in 35% and 41%, respectively [2]. Abdominal pain and diarrhea were reported in approximately 8% and 14%, respectively [2]. Gastrointestinal symptoms may occur without any respiratory symptoms [2, 3].

Acute pancreatitis in children is typically caused by viral infections like mumps, coxsackie, influenza, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is not one of the recognized viruses [4]. The other etiologies of pancreatitis in children include drug abuse, biliary anomalies, gallstones, cholecystitis, trauma, metabolic diseases like diabetes and hypertriglyceridemia, familial and systemic diseases such as systemic lupus and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis [5]. Acute pancreatitis has been reported in adults and children affected with COVID-19 [6]. Amongst the pediatric population there are isolated case reports of acute pancreatitis and it is speculated as one of the gastrointestinal complications of COVID-19 [7, 8]. The following case highlights the importance of considering atypical manifestations of COVID-19 while evaluating gastrointestinal symptoms in a pediatric patient during this pandemic and seeks to add acute pancreatitis as one of the possible complications.

A 14-year-old adolescent male presented to the emergency room with a 1-day history of abdominal pain that gradually worsened in severity. He described the pain as diffuse yet more prominent in his left upper quadrant. It was crampy in nature and associated with nausea, several bouts of non-bloody non-bilious emesis, and a decreased appetite.

He otherwise denied fevers, headaches, diplopia, conjunctivitis, anosmia, ageusia, cough, chest pain, dyspnea, diarrhea, rashes or trauma. The family denied any known COVID-19 exposure; however, both parents are nurses and state that they were screened weekly for COVID-19 via nasopharyngeal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab at their place of employment and all tests had been negative.

There was no significant past medical history. He denied any past surgeries, use of medications or known allergies. He denied using alcohol, tobacco, vaping or other illicit drugs. He was up to date on his vaccines. He otherwise had been developing appropriately for age, had a regular diet, and was living in a stable household.

Admission vitals were temperature of 36.8 °C, heart rate of 75 beats/minute, respiratory rate of 18 breaths/min, blood pressure of 121/85 mm Hg and oxygen saturation of 98% on room air. His physical exam was significant for a grade II/VI systolic murmur heard at the lower sternal border which increased in intensity when the patient was lying flat. On abdominal exam the patient had left sided abdominal tenderness more prominent in the left upper quadrant. The neurological exam was unremarkable with a Glasgow Coma Scale of 15, good strength, and tone. No signs of respiratory distress or dehydration.

The patient’s labs were significant for an elevated neutrophil count of 84%, elevated total bilirubin to 1.6 mg/dL, lipase to 2,908 U/L, and positive SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal PCR. He had a normal white blood cell (WBC) count, electrolytes, C-reactive protein (CRP), hepatic enzymes and triglyceride level. Urinalysis was initially indicative of dehydration but corrected with fluid replacement. Urine drug screen was negative. His workup was also negative for gonorrhea/chlamydia, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis (Tables 1-4). Viral panel to exclude other viral causes was deferred because of a shortage of PCR swabs and as per hospital policy at that time.

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Table 1. Complete Blood Count

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Table 2. Complete Metabolic Panel

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Table 3. Additional Serum Studies

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Table 4. Urinalysis

A limited ultrasound right lower abdomen was done to rule out acute appendicitis which showed a normal appendix. A computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis with oral and intravenous contrast was ordered to rule out any other intra-abdominal pathology given his marked left sided abdominal tenderness on physical examination. It showed an indistinct margin of the pancreatic tail and left upper quadrant ascites. It was further discussed with a pediatric radiologist who noted subtle stranding at the tail of the pancreas. These findings were suggestive of early pancreatitis. There were no findings of gallstones or biliary tract obstruction (Fig. 1).

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Figure 1. Computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis showing an indistinct margin of the pancreatic tail and left upper quadrant ascites. Mild stranding (white arrow) with surrounding ascites (red arrow).

Patient was started on bowel rest, intravenous (IV) fluids, and pain management. On day 1 of admission, he received IV Tylenol 1,000 mg (total one dose) then switched to IV Toradol 30 mg every 8 h (total seven doses) with Hydromorphone 1 mg for breakthrough pain (total two doses). On day 2, he became febrile (101.4 F) and was started on IV Zosyn 3.375 g every 6 h (total two doses) and oral Metronidazole 500 mg every 8 h (total two doses). He was also given oral famotidine 20 mg twice daily for gastrointestinal prophylaxis (total three doses) and Zofran 4 mg (total one dose) during hospital stay. Once clinical exams improved and lipase down trended, the diet was advanced and pain medication was switched to oral acetaminophen 650 mg every 4 h as needed (total two doses). He tolerated advances well and remained stable on room air. His CRP level increased to104 mg/dL. He otherwise remained well and afebrile for over 24 h and lipase down trended to 148 U/L prior to discharge. No antibiotics were prescribed upon discharge to home from the hospital. His hospital stay was approximately 3.5 days.

Of note, electrocardiogram (EKG) done during hospitalization which reported mild left ventricular hypertrophy for evaluation of murmur. Cardiology advised follow-up in 2 weeks for evaluation of the murmur. Blood pressures noted to be in the 90-95% for age for which family was instructed to keep a log then follow up with a nephrologist as an outpatient visit. The patient, however, was lost to follow-up.

In summary, this was a 14-year-old previously healthy adolescent male who presented with abdominal pain and was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, likely secondary to SARS-CoV-2 virus. As a viral panel was not performed we cannot exclude co-infection with another virus such as mumps, coxsackie, influenza, or EBV that are associated with acute pancreatitis although patient did not manifest with any other symptoms or show lab results typical to these viruses. His hospital stay remained uneventful. Clinical and laboratory studies showed notable improvement with bowel rest, hydration, pain control and antibiotics. This case is unique due to its isolated gastrointestinal manifestations in the setting of a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test. Patient’s diagnosis of COVID-19 is elucidated as the possible cause of his acute pancreatitis. Early recognition and management started in our emergency room contributed to the faster recovery of the patient.

Not much is known about the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 with the various organ systems, especially in the pediatric population [9, 10]. Although there have been isolated case reports in the adult population and a retrospective/observational study from Wuhan Tongji Hospital and Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital in China about pancreatic injury caused by the COVID-19, the exact mechanism is still under investigation [11, 12]. A plausible mechanism suggested is the binding of the SARS-CoV-2 to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in the pancreas since the expression of this receptor is higher in the pancreas than the lungs [12].

Current literature focuses more on the respiratory presentation of COVID-19 [9, 13]. Gastrointestinal manifestations continue to be an unexplored dimension in the pediatric population [3, 14]. There is no published literature on the management of pancreatic inflammation which might be attributed to the SARS-CoV-2, although the mainstay for acute pancreatitis management is fluids, pain control, antibiotics for secondary bacterial infection with initial bowel rest and early initiation of oral feeding [5]. The significant improvement in our patient with the above-mentioned regimen may serve as a guide to patient management with similar presenting features.

To our knowledge, there have been limited reported cases amongst the pediatric population with acute pancreatitis as the sole presenting feature after being infected with COVID-19. This case illustrates the vulnerability of the pediatric population to this virus and adds to the myriad of presenting symptoms that may be attributed to the novel SARS-CoV-2. A limitation of this case report is that a respiratory viral panel was not performed to exclude other viral etiologies associated with acute pancreatitis. This case does emphasize the need to consider acute pancreatitis as a differential for pediatric patients presenting only with abdominal pain during this pandemic and mandatory COVID-19 testing. Further research is required to explore this association and investigate the possible mechanism of injury and why this injury is more pronounced in certain organ systems.

Acknowledgments

None to declare.

Financial Disclosure

None to declare.

Conflict of Interest

None to declare.

Informed Consent

Not applicable.

Author Contributions

SS, NS, MK, and JC drafted the initial manuscript. FP reviewed the manuscript. JG reviewed and revised the manuscript. All the authors have approved the final manuscript as submitted and accepted accountability for all aspects of the work.

Data Availability

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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International Journal of Clinical Pediatrics is published by Elmer Press Inc.