title: Recent advances in autoimmune pancreatitis.
abstract: ALTHOUGH THE PATHOGENESIS OF AUTOIMMUNE PANCREATITIS REMAINS UNCLEAR, THIS REPORT PRESENTS RECENT EVIDENCE OF THE CLINICAL ASPECTS OF THIS DISEASE: mild abdominal symptoms, usually without acute attacks of pancreatitis; occasional presence of obstructive jaundice; elevated levels of serum gammaglobulin, immunoglobulin (Ig)G, or IgG4; presence of autoantibodies; diffuse enlargement of the pancreas; irregular narrowing of the pancreatic duct (sclerosing pancreatitis), often with intrapancreatic biliary stenosis or coexisting biliary lesions (sclerosing cholangitis similar to primary sclerosing cholangitis) seen on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; fibrotic changes with lymphocyte and IgG4-positive plasmacyte infiltration and obliterative phlebitis; occasional association with other systemic lesions (such as sialadenitis), retroperitoneal fibrosis, and interstitial renal tubular disorders; and response to steroid therapy. Based upon these findings, several sets of diagnostic criteria have been proposed. Further studies and international consensus for diagnostic criteria and pathogenetic mechanisms are needed.
authors: Dr. Okazaki serves as Chairman and Professor in The Third Department of Internal Medicine at Kansai Medical University in Osaka, Japan, and Director of the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Kansai Medical University Hirakata Hospital, also in Osaka, Japan.
authors: Kazuichi
authors: K
authors: Okazaki
authors: Kazushige
authors: K
authors: Uchida
authors: Toshiro
authors: T
authors: Fukui
authors: Mitsunobu
authors: M
authors: Matsushita
authors: Makoto
authors: M
authors: Takaoka