Autoimmune pancreatitis: A bibliometric analysis from 2002 to 2022

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Hepatology
• Immunology
• Bibliometrics

Background:

• Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a distinct inflammatory pancreatic disease responsive to glucocorticoids.
• Research on AIP has significantly advanced over the past two decades.
• Understanding the global research landscape is crucial for future advancements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a bibliometric analysis of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) research from 2002 to 2022.
• To identify leading countries, institutions, authors, and journals in AIP research.
• To determine the primary research focus and emerging topics in the field of AIP.

Main Methods:

• Publications on AIP were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (2002-2022).
• Bibliometric data were analyzed using HisCite, VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the bibliometrix package.
• Key metrics including publication output, leading contributors, and keyword analysis were evaluated.

Main Results:

• A total of 1,772 publications were analyzed, with Japan being the most prolific country (41.1%).
• Key journals included Pancreas, Journal of Gastroenterology, and Internal Medicine.
• "Diagnosis" emerged as the most frequent keyword, with "risk," "malignancy," and "outcome" as emerging topics.

Conclusions:

• Japan is the leading contributor to autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) research.
• Diagnosis remains a central research focus, while long-term outcomes and tissue acquisition represent future research frontiers.
• Specialized journals are the primary outlets for AIP research findings.