title: Autoimmune pancreatitis: report of two cases and literature review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a unique chronic inflammation of the pancreas in which autoimmune mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis. It is characterized by clinical, histopathological, radiographic, serologic and therapeutic features. Since it was first described in 1995, increasing numbers of AIP patients have been diagnosed.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, the data from 2 patients with AIP who had elevation of serum immunoglobulin G, positive autoantibody, swelling of the pancreas and narrowing of the main pancreatic duct on imaging were analyzed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the initial diagnosis of AIP, both patients underwent regular prednisone therapy, which was initiated at a dose of 40 mg per day with a tapering schedule of 5 mg every 2 weeks. The patients responded very well to treatment with prednisone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AIP is a relatively new disease entity. Although it is diagnosed by distinct characteristics of the clinical, radiologic, histopathologic, and serologic findings, many questions require further clarification, including its relationship to other autoimmune diseases and misdiagnosis as pancreaticobiliary malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatosplenic Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China.
authors.forename: Qin-Song
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Da-Zhi
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ren
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Dong-Dong
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhao-Wei
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Qu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D049448:Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D015415:Biomarkers; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011241:Prednisone