Antinuclear and pancreatic acinar cell antibodies in pancreatic diseases

Recently, the presence of acinar cell antibodies (ACA) and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in acute and/or chronic pancreatitis have been discussed in the light of an immunological pathogenesis of pancreatitis. In the present study sera of 109 patients with pancreatic diseases were scanned for ACA and ANA which were found in 5 of 16 patients, respectively. The frequency of ACA and ANA was similar in patients with pancreatitis of known and unknown aetiology. In conclusion, the presence of ACA and ANA seems to be rather an epiphenomenon than an index for a certain immunological aetiology of pancreatitis.