Steroid responsiveness and treatment regimen of steroids in acute autoimmune pancreatitis.

ABSTRACT

Autoimmune pancreatitis is the pancreatic manifestation of a systemic inflammatory disease in which affected organs are characterized by intense lymphoplasmacytic infiltration. The diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis sometimes is puzzling and its differentiation from pancreatic cancer is a clinical challenge. The features of autoimmune pancreatitis are its typical histological pattern, imaging, serology (increase of immunoglobulins and the presence of autoantibodies), associated non-pancreatic organ involvement and response to steroid therapy. Recent advances in identifying these features have resulted in enhanced recognition, diagnosis of this benign disease and the avoidance of unnecessary surgical procedures for suspected malignancy. In this article, the authors will review recent updates in the steroid treatment of autoimmune pancreatitis.