title: Autoimmune pancreatitis associated with high levels of chromogranin a, serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic Acid.
abstract: We report a case of a male patient with autoimmune pancreatitis in whom biochemical examination revealed high plasma chromogranin A concentrations, histological demonstration of a small lymphocytic infiltrate and rapid decrease in size of the pancreatic mass following short-lasting therapy with methylprednisolone. To our knowledge, this is the first patient with autoimmune pancreatitis who had a simultaneous increase of serum chromogranin A levels, circulating and urinary serotonin concentrations and urine 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentrations. This is one of the few cases of mass forming pancreatitis with small lymphocytic infiltrate found in a Caucasian patient and rapid decrease in size of the pancreatic mass following short-lasting therapy with methylprednisolone.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Medical Oncology 'L. & A. Seragnoli', Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nobili
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pezzilli
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campidelli
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calculli
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Casadei
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biasco