Autoimmune pancreatitis: a case report

ABSTRACT

Autoimmune pancreatitis is a fibro-inflammatory form of chronic pancreatitis. It is diagnosed by the combination of imaging studies such as a CT scan and pancreatography, laboratory analyses that include IgG4 and/or autoantibodies, histopathological evaluations and positive response to corticosteroid therapy. We report the case of a 41-year-old female with a history of jaundice and increasing abdominal pain for two weeks prior to her clinic visit. Laboratory results were significant for an increase in alkaline phosphatase [ALP] and erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR]. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography [MRCP] confirmed areas of stenosis and dilatation in the pancreatic duct and in the intra- and extra-hepatic bile ducts similar to primary sclerosant cholangitis. Laboratory analyses showed increased levels of IgG4 with the presence of antinuclear antibodies.