Acute Pancreatitis in Patients Receiving Chlorothiazide

Acute pancreatitis was diagnosed in three women, all 50 years of age or older, who had been taking 0.5 to 1.0 Gm. of chlorothiazide daily for two or three months in the course of treatment for cardiovascular disease. In no case was there a history of conditions usually considered as predisposing to acute pancreatitis. The diagnosis was based on both clinical and laboratory studies and was confirmed in one case by histological study of autopsy material. Although the specific etiology remained undetermined, chlorothiazide was considered as a possible cause. The authors wish to alert physicians to this possibility, which may warrant further investigation.