Pathological case of the month: sudden death in a child as a result of pancreatitis during valproic acid therapy

Valproic acid is a widely used drug in the treatment of epilepsy and, compared to other anticonvulsant drugs, is considered safe. The most common side effects of valproic acid ingestion or therapy are transient nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. Most of these complaints are mild. However, more serious adverse reactions can occur such as hepatotoxicity and pancreatitis. It has been proposed that, whenever possible, valproic acid not be used in the younger child, the child with a severe seizure disorder or other neurological disorders, mental retardation, developmental delay, organic brain disease, congenital abnormalities, or the child who is taking multiple anticonvulsant drugs, as these factors may increase the likelihood of hepatotoxicity and/or pancreatitis. In the present report, we describe a fatal case of acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis in a four and a half-year-old Hispanic female child who was receiving valproic acid in combination with another anticonvulsant drug for control of focal seizures. The patient also received the macrolide antibiotic azithromycin. For pediatricians and forensic pathologists valproic acid-induced pancreatitis can be a challenging diagnosis which must not be mistaken for abdominal trauma. We discuss the workup of the patient and differential diagnosis.