[The immunological aspects of chronic pancreatitis]

The immunological status was investigated in 200 patients with chronic pancreatitis. Recurrent pancreatitis was characterized by marked autosensitization to pancreatic tissue, latent pancreatitis forms--by a high level of immune complexes and blood serum immunoglobulins, the painful form--by minimal resistance disorders. Established were clinico-immunological parallels between the frequency of exacerbations and degree of autosensitization, level of immune complex and yield of enzymes.