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Case 4: Didanosine-Associated Pancreatitis

You answered:

B Didanosine-associated pancreatitis usually occurs within the first two weeks of therapy; the timing of pancreatitis in this patient is highly unusual.

This answer is incorrect. Patients most frequently develop pancreatitis after months of therapy, with a peak incidence between 10 to 20 weeks after starting therapy.

Choose another answer:

A More than 90% of cases of didanosine-associated pancreatitis result from didanosine-induced hypertriglyceridemia.
C The risk of didanosine-induced pancreatitis is dose-related. The patient in this case had an increased risk of developing pancreatitis because tenofovir DF likely increased didanosine levels. The didanosine dose should have been decreased to 250 mg per day.
D In order to decrease her risk of pancreatitis, didanosine should have been combined with stavudine (Zerit) and hydroxyurea (Hydrea).
E Didanosine causes pancreatitis by directly activating the pancreatic enzyme trypsinogen.

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