title: Retrospective study of steroid therapy for patients with autoimmune pancreatitis in a Chinese population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the optimal steroid therapeutic strategy for autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted retrospectively in two large institutions in China. Patients with clinically, radiologically and biochemically diagnosed AIP were enrolled. The performed radiological investigations and biochemical tests, the regimen of the given steroid treatment, remission and relapse whether with and without steroid therapy were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight patients with AIP received steroid treatment, while 40 patients were treated surgically by pancreatoduodenectomy, distal pancreatectomy and choledochojejunostomy, radiofrequency ablation for the enlarged pancreatic head, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage and endoscopic biliary drainage. The starting oral prednisolone dose was 30 mg/d in 18 (64.3%) patients and 40 mg/d in 10 (35.7%) patients administered for 3 wk. The remission rate of AIP patients with steroid treatment (96.4%) was significantly higher than in those without steroid treatment (75%). Maintenance therapy (oral prednisolone dose 5 mg/d) was performed after remission for at least 6-12 mo to complete the treatment course. Similarly, the relapse rate was significantly lower in AIP patients with steroid treatment (28.6%) than in those without steroid treatment (42.5%). Steroid re-treatment was effective in all relapsed patients with or without steroid therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Steroid therapy should be considered in all patients with active inflammatory phase of AIP. However, the optimal regimen still should be trailed in larger numbers of patients with AIP.
authors: Department of General Surgery, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300052, China. liubin78@163.com
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Liu
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Li
authors: Lu-Nan
authors: LN
authors: Yan
authors: Hao-Ran
authors: HR
authors: Sun
authors: Tong
authors: T
authors: Liu
authors: Zhi-Xiang
authors: ZX
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000601:surgery; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013256:Steroids
keywords: Autoimmune pancreatitis; Chinese population; Relapse; Remission; Steroid therapy
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