Ischemic acute necrotizing pancreatitis in a marathon runner. Comment.

we read the contribution by Mast et al. with great interest [1]. They report on this unfortunate gentleman who developed acute pancreatitis after running marathon and taking a sauna. Although this combination of physical activities is not so uncommon in the Nordic countries, particularly during winter time, no such experience or reports exist on pancreatitis. Morbidity and mortality of sauna bathing is rather low [2], despite the fact that there is a readiness to combine sauna with alcohol intake. The more this case report appears worth publishing, even though we should have appreciated some more data on the level of hemoconcentration in this runner and sauna bather. Furthermore, as it is routine in our pancreas clinic these days, we would have searched also for one of the known genetic factors contributing to the development of pancreatitis such as mutations in PRSS1, SPINK1, CFTR and CTRC genes [3]. Even more though in a patient who does not have one of the known or obvious causes such as alcohol, gallstones or hyperlipidemia. Further, despite his obvious physical condition, the presence of atherosclerotic microangiopathy would be worth knowing in a 57-year-old man, since most of the ischemic etiologies are thought to be associated with atherosclerotic disease [4].