Corticosteroid is a well-established cause of drug-induced pancreatitis. However, acute pancreatitis from intra-articular injection of corticosteroid has never been described.
A 69-year-old male presented with acute abdominal pain and was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. The patient had one episode of acute pancreatitis two year earlier. Both episodes occurred after intra-articular cortisone injection. Investigations for other causes of pancreatitis were negative.
We report the first case of acute pancreatitis from intra-articular corticosteroid injection. Physicians should be aware of this adverse reaction of corticosteroid that can even occur with local administration.