[Clinical characteristics of 17 cases of autoimmune chronic pancreatitis]

Autoimmune pancreatitis is a distinctive type of chronic pancreatitis with reversibility. We analyzed the largest number of patients with autoimmune pancreatitis among the studies carried out at a single institution in Korea.

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical, radiologic, laboratory and histologic features in 17 patients who were diagnosed as autoimmune pancreatitis.

The patients were predominantly elderly men who presented with jaundice or nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms. In most of the patients, serum pancreatic enzymes were normal or mildly elevated with an accompanying cholestatic biochemical profile. Elevated IgG levels and detection of autoantibodies were observed in 47% (8/17) and 35% (6/17), respectively. Thirteen patients showed histologic findings of lymphoplasmacytic infiltration and fibrosis, and one patient showed predominant infiltration of eosinophils. Fifteen patients revealed radiologic images of diffuse swelling of pancreas and the sclerosing pattern on direct pancreatogram. All of the features improved in response to oral steroid therapy. Two cases showed focal narrowing with upstream duct dilatation and thus, they were diagnosed as focal type. Diabetes mellitus concurred in 13 cases and primary sclerosing cholangitis and Sjogren's syndrome were present in 1 case, respectively.

The recognition of autoimmune pancreatitis allows patients to avoid unnecessary surgery and recover with the administration of oral steroid.