Long-term outcome of autoimmune pancreatitis.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a unique form of pancreatitis and can be complicated with various extrapancreatic lesions. Little is known about the long-term clinical course of AIP. Here we aimed to document the clinical course of AIP.

METHODS:

For this study, we recruited 21 patients, averaging 66.5 years in age (range, 19-84 years) and observed them at a mean interval of 40.8 months (range, 18-130 months). Three of the patients were also diagnosed with retroperitoneal fibrosis, 3 had sialoadenitis, 2 had chronic thyroiditis, 1 had interstitial nephritis, and 1 had interstitial pneumonia. Three of the patients underwent surgical therapy, 12 patients received methylprednisolone (PSL) treatment, and the 6 remaining patients received no treatment.

RESULTS:

Enlargement of the pancreas was attenuated in all the PSL-treated patients. Seven of the 21 patients showed pancreatic atrophy, of whom 2 were non-PSL-treated patients. Three patients developed chronic pancreatitis. One patient was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after 50 months of PSL therapy.

CONCLUSIONS:

As with chronic pancreatitis patients, AIP patients should be observed closely for abnormality in pancreatic function.

• Authors: Kazushige Uchida, Shujiro Yazumi, Akiyoshi Nishio, Takeo Kusuda, Masaki Koyabu, Masanori Fukata, Hideaki Miyoshi, Yutaku Sakaguchi, Toshiro Fukui, Mitsunobu Matsushita, Makoto Takaoka, Kazuichi Okazaki
• Journal: Journal of gastroenterology (J Gastroenterol) Vol. 44 Issue 7 Pg. 726-32 ( 2009) ISSN: 0944-1174 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 19396390 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Trypsin
• Methylprednisolone

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Autoimmune Diseases (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Methylprednisolone (therapeutic use)
• Middle Aged
• Pancreatitis (complications, diagnosis, immunology, pathology)
• Prognosis
• Recurrence
• Trypsin (blood)