title: [The clinical characteristics of 32 patients with autoimmune pancreatitis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the clinical characteristics and diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) with the aim to raise awareness of AIP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical data of 32 patients with AIP were retrospectively analyzed, including clinical manifestations, imaging features, laboratory examination, histopathology and treatment from November 2009 to April 2013 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Zhejiang University.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 32 AIP patients including 25 males and 7 females had a median age of (62.5 ± 12.6) years (27-84 years). The initial symptoms included obstructive jaundice in 50.0% patients (16/32), abdominal pain in 43.8% (14/32), fatigue and weight loss in 12.5% (4/32), and bloody stool in 6.3% (2/32). Laboratory findings revealed abnormal liver function in 6.3% (2/32) patients, increased immunoglobulins in 71.9% (23/32) patients and elevated IgG4 in 8/10 patients. Computerized tomography (CT) scan and ultrasonography were performed in all patients. Diffusely enlarged pancreas were found in 62.5% (20/32) patients and focally enlarged in 37.5% (12/32), additionally main pancreatic duct stenosis in 62.5% (20/32) patients. Nineteen patients obtained histopathological examination, indicating pancreatic interstitial fibrosis, and infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autoimmune pancreatitis is an autoimmune disease which may be misdiagnosed as pancreatic cancer. The clinical features, laboratory findings, imaging characteristics, and typical histopathologic presentation, as well as good response to glucocorticoids provide supportive evidence for the diagnosis of AIP.
authors.forename: Dongya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hongyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Youming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China. Email: ych623@sina.com.
authors.forename: Chaohui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002681:China; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007074:Immunoglobulin G