Beneficial Effect of Oral Lithium Carbonate in the Treatment of Pancreatic Cholera Syndrome

Abstract

PANCREATIC cholera syndrome is characterized by profuse, watery diarrhea and hypokalemia associated with a non-beta islet-cell neoplasm of the pancreas.¹ About half the patients with the syndrome have metastases at diagnosis²; chemotherapy with streptozocin can produce remissions.¹ In patients without metastases, the disease may be cured by resection of the tumor.² Agents such as prednisone³ and indomethacin⁴ may reduce or abolish the diarrhea.We demonstrate that oral lithium therapy can substantially reduce diarrhea in a patient with pancreatic cholera.Case ReportA 60-year-old woman had had diabetes mellitus and pancreatic cholera syndrome caused by a metastatic non-beta islet-cell carcinoma. . . .