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Published on: July 30, 2011
Association between autoimmune pancreatitis and systemic autoimmune diseases
Viktória Terzin1, Imre Földesi, László Kovács
1First Department of Medicine, University of Szeged, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary.
World Journal of Gastroenterology
|June 13, 2012
Summary
Elevated serum immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) levels can occur in systemic autoimmune diseases (SAIDs) without autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). Measuring serum IgG4 is not reliable for distinguishing between IgG4-related diseases and other SAIDs.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a specific type of chronic pancreatitis.
- Elevated serum immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) is a hallmark of IgG4-related disease.
- The association between AIP and other systemic autoimmune diseases (SAIDs) requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and systemic autoimmune diseases (SAIDs).
- To determine if serum immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) levels can differentiate between AIP and SAIDs.
Main Methods:
- Serum IgG4 levels were measured in 61 treatment-naive patients with various SAIDs.
- Patients with elevated IgG4 underwent abdominal ultrasonography and/or computed tomography.
- Comparison of IgG4 levels between SAID subtypes and AIP patients.
Main Results:
- 28% of SAID patients exhibited elevated serum IgG4 levels.
- Elevated IgG4 was observed in patients with Sjögren's syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus.
- No characteristic AIP features were found in SAID patients with high IgG4 levels.
- IgG4 levels in SLE and SS patients were comparable to those in AIP patients.
Conclusions:
- Elevated serum IgG4 can be present in SAIDs independent of AIP.
- Serum IgG4 measurement is not sufficient to differentiate IgG4-related diseases from other SAIDs.
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