Joined: 02 Apr 2008 Posts: 5 Location: ellisville, ms us
AUTOIMMUNE PANCREATITIS Posted: 04-02-08 23:02pm
Has anyone out there been diagnosed with
autoimmune pancreatitis? What are your
docs telling you? I have had chronic
pancreatitis for over 10 years now and
research has finally come up with a cause
(other than post-op problems and
alcoholism) for it. I want to hear your
story.
Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is
considered as a benign type of chronic
pancreatitis that can be treated with
corticosteroids. It is manifested with
abdominal pain, weight loss and nausea.
There are 3 diagnostic criteria for
autoimmune pancreatitis:
1. Diffuse narrowing of the main
pancreatic duct with irregular wall should
be shown on ERCP (endoscopic retrograde
cholangio-pancreaticography);
2. Abnormally elevated levels of serum
gamma globulin and presence of
autoantibodies (ANA, RF...), and
3. Histopathologic examination of the
pancreas shows fibrotic changes with
lymphocyte and plasma cell infiltrate.
