Medicines that may cause pancreas inflammation (acute pancreatitis)
Determining medications associated with drug-induced pancreatic injury through novel pharmacoepidemiology techniques that assess causation
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · NIH-11332819
Researchers will analyze large health records to find which prescription medicines can cause sudden pancreas inflammation so patients and doctors can avoid harmful drugs.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11332819 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project looks for links between medicines and sudden pancreas inflammation (acute pancreatitis) by analyzing large electronic health databases. Investigators will compare medication histories of people with pancreatitis to those without and use advanced pharmacoepidemiology methods to separate drug effects from other causes. The work goes beyond single-patient case reports by controlling for other risk factors and examining thousands of drugs and patient records using powerful computing. The goal is to identify medications that likely cause drug-induced pancreatic injury and those that are safe so doctors can make better treatment choices.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had unexplained acute pancreatitis or who suspect a prescription medication caused their pancreatitis are most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose pancreatitis has a clear non-drug cause (for example, gallstones or heavy alcohol use) may not get direct benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help prevent future pancreatitis episodes by identifying risky drugs and guiding safer medication choices.
How similar studies have performed: Most prior evidence has come from individual case reports and small series, so using large health databases with advanced methods is a relatively new approach that aims to provide stronger evidence.
Where this research is happening
PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH — PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: VAJRAVELU, RAVY KUPPALAPALLE — UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- Study coordinator: VAJRAVELU, RAVY KUPPALAPALLE
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.