Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease, A Diagnosis to Take into Account: About a Case

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an immune-mediated and multisystemic condition associated with developing fibroinflammatory lesions in any organ. The diagnosis is made based on the sum of clinical, serological, radiological, and histopathological criteria; however, this is often difficult due to its similarity to neoplasms, infections, or other immune-mediated diseases. Treatment is based on corticosteroids, in a possible combination with immunomodulators. The present case concerns a 59-year-old man with a history of jaundice syndrome and weight loss, admitted for suspected malignant neoplasia of the bile duct. Imaging revealed stricture with dilation of the intrahepatic bile ducts, prominent pancreas, pancreatic duct stricture, and nodular renal lesions. Due to the history of left submandibulectomy two years before the current disease and histology compatible with Küttner's tumor, plus the high IgG4 serum values, the diagnosis of IgG4-RD was established. He started treatment with corticosteroids and was asymptomatic during follow-up.

La enfermedad relacionada con inmunoglobulina G4 (ER-IgG4) es una condición inmunomediada y multisistémica asociada al desarrollo de lesiones fibroinflamatorias en cualquier órgano. El diagnóstico se realiza bajo la suma de criterios clínicos, serológicos, radiológicos e histopatológicos; sin embargo, este suele ser difícil debido a su similitud con neoplasias, infecciones u otras enfermedades inmunomediadas. El tratamiento se basa en corticosteroides, en una posible combinación con inmunomoduladores. El presente caso trata de un varón de 59 años con historia de síndrome ictérico y baja de peso, admitido por sospecha de neoplasia maligna de la vía biliar. Las imágenes revelaron estenosis con dilatación de las vías biliares intrahepáticas, páncreas prominente, estenosis del conducto pancreático y lesiones nodulares renales. Debido al antecedente de submandibulectomía izquierda 2 años antes de la enfermedad actual e histología compatible con tumor de Küttner, más los valores elevados de IgG4 sérico, se estableció el diagnóstico de ER-IgG4. Inició tratamiento con corticosteroides y cursó asintomático durante el seguimiento.

Pancreatic cancer, autoimmune or chronic pancreatitis, beyond tissue diagnosis: Collateral imaging and clinical characteristics may differentiate them.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignancies and is developing into the 2nd leading cause of cancer-related death. Often, the clinical and radiological presentation of PDAC may be mirrored by other inflammatory pancreatic masses, such as autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and mass-forming chronic pancreatitis (MFCP), making its diagnosis challenging. Differentiating AIP and MFCP from PDAC is vital due to significant therapeutic and prognostic implications. Current diagnostic criteria and tools allow the precise differentiation of benign from malignant masses; however, the diagnostic accuracy is imperfect. Major pancreatic resections have been performed in AIP cases under initial suspicion of PDAC after a diagnostic approach failed to provide an accurate diagnosis. It is not unusual that after a thorough diagnostic evaluation, the clinician is confronted with a pancreatic mass with uncertain diagnosis. In those cases, a re-evaluation must be entertained, preferably by an experienced multispecialty team including radiologists, pathologists, gastroenterologists, and surgeons, looking for disease-specific clinical, imaging, and histological hallmarks or collateral evidence that could favor a specific diagnosis. Our aim is to describe current diagnostic limitations that hinder our ability to reach an accurate diagnosis among AIP, PDAC, and MFCP and to highlight those disease-specific clinical, radiological, serological, and histological characteristics that could support the presence of any of these three disorders when facing a pancreatic mass with uncertain diagnosis after an initial diagnostic approach has been unsuccessful.

IgG4-related disease associated with immune thrombocytopenia: A clinical case report

Autoimmune pancreatitis is a characteristic manifestation of the spectrum of the disease related to IgG4, a rare autoimmune disorder that presents clinically with obstructive jaundice due to the infiltration of plasma cells and fibrosis in the pancreas. There may be other symptoms in case of involvement of other organs, and in very rare cases there is hematological involvement. We present the case of an adult man with signs of cholestasis secondary to type I autoimmune pancreatitis, with involvement of other organs and associated with thrombocytopenia that improved with systemic corticosteroid-based immunosuppressive treatment, after which the patient showed favorable clinical and analytical evolution over time.

La pancreatitis autoimmune es una manifestación característica del espectro de la enfermedad relacionada con IgG4, trastorno raro de tipo autoinmune que se presenta clínicamente con ictericia obstructiva debido a la infiltración de células plasmáticas y fibrosis en el páncreas; puede presentarse con otra sintomatología en caso de afectación de otros órganos y en muy raras ocasiones hay compromiso hematológico. Se presenta el caso de un hombre adulto con signos de colestasis secundaria a una pancreatitis autoinmune tipo i, con compromiso de otros órganos y asociada con trombocitopenia que mejoró con el tratamiento inmunosupresor a base de corticoide sistémico, luego del cual se observó una evolución favorable en cuanto a la clínica y analítica en el transcurso del tiempo.

Autoimmune pancreatitis diagnosis based on immunoglobulin G4 levels: Case report / Diagnóstico de pancreatitis autoinmune basado en niveles de inmunoglobulina G4: reporte de caso

Abstract Introduction: Autoimmune pancreatitis is a rare form of chronic pancreatitis, with an estimated prevalence of 1 case per 100 000 inhabitants in the general population. It is characterized by the presence of painless obstructive jaundice and imaging findings of a diffusely enlarged pancreas and loss of its lobularity. Depending on its features, it can be classified as subtype 1 or 2, and its diagnosis is reached based on imaging, serological, and histological findings, as well as the patient's response to corticosteroid therapy, which in turn is the indicated treatment for this disease. Case presentation: A 62-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department of a quaternary care hospital in Bogotá D.C. due to generalized jaundice associated with choluria and acholia. Upon admission, the patient was assessed by the general surgery and gastroenterology services and diagnosed with autoimmune pancreatitis based on immunoglobulin G4 levels and imaging and laboratory findings compatible with this disease. He was successfully treated with corticosteroids, obtaining satisfactory clinical outcomes and a complete resolution of symptoms. Conclusions: Autoimmune pancreatitis is a disease that should be suspected in patients with symptoms of painless obstructive jaundice, thus avoiding misdiagnoses and providing timely treatment that allows the resolution of symptoms and proper management of the disease.

Resumen Introducción. La pancreatitis autoinmune es una forma de pancreatitis crónica poco frecuente, con una prevalencia estimada de 1 caso por cada 100 000 habitantes en la población general. Se caracteriza por la presencia de ictericia obstructiva indolora y hallazgos imagenológicos de un páncreas aumentado de tamaño con forma difusa y pérdida de su lobularidad. Se clasifica en subtipo 1 o 2, dependiendo de sus características, y el diagnóstico se realiza de acuerdo con los hallazgos imagenológicos, serológicos, histológicos y la respuesta a la corticoterapia, que a su vez es el tratamiento indicado para esta enfermedad. Presentación del caso. Hombre de 62 años quien ingresó al servicio de urgencias de un hospital de cuarto nivel de atención en Bogotá D.C., Colombia, por cuadro clínico de ictericia generalizada acompañada de coluria y episodios de acolia. Fue valorado por el servicio de cirugía general en conjunto con gastroenterologia y diagnosticado con pancreatitis autoinmune basándose en los niveles de inmunoglobulina G4 y los hallazgos imagenológicos y de laboratorio compatibles con esta enfermedad. El paciente fue tratado de manera exitosa con terapia corticoide, logrando resultados clínicos satisfactorios y resolución de la sintomatologia. Conclusiones. La pancreatitis autoinmune es una enfermedad que debe sospecharse en pacientes con sintomatologia de ictericia obstructiva indolora, evitando de esta forma diagnósticos erróneos y brindando un tratamiento oportuno que permita la resolución de los síntomas y un manejo adecuado de la enfermedad.

Enfermedad relacionada con IgG4: reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura / IgG4-related disease: a case report and literature review

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4-RD) -related disease is a regional or systemic fibroinflammatory disease of unknown etiology. It has a characteristic histopathological appearance of dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates with abundant IgG4 positive plasma cells, storiform fibrosis and obliterative phlebitis with the appearance of inflammatory swelling or swollen lesions. This entity frequently affects the pancreas, salivary glands, and lymph nodes, but it can compromise almost any structure in the human anatomy. This new disease entity includes a wide variety of diseases such as Mikulicz disease, autoimmune pancreatitis, Riedel's thyroiditis, interstitial nephritis, and retroperitoneal fibrosis. Glucocorticoid therapy can resolve clinical and pathologic abnormalities and impaired organ function. IgG4-RD was internationally recognized in 2011, and new evidence has accumulated on its pathogenesis, clinical characteristics, and treatment. However, much is still unknown about the behavior of IgG4 in vivo, the participation of this molecule in disease, and whether its role in IgG4-related disease is primary or secondary. The text below is based on a brief review of the most recent literature on this entity in relation to a clinical case.

Steroid-responsive pancreatitides.

Autoimmune pancreatitis has received considerable attention, especially due to the marked effect of corticosteroid therapy on its clinical course. Knowledge, especially regarding type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis, has significantly increased over the last decades, and despite significant differences in pathophysiology and outcomes, both type 1 and 2 autoimmune pancreatitis are still considered different types of the same disease. Some have proposed a different nomenclature reflecting these differences. Although the term steroid-responsive pancreatitides may be interpreted as synonymous to type 1 and 2 autoimmune pancreatitis, these are not the only pancreatic conditions that show a response to steroid therapy. Acute pancreatitis caused by vasculitis and connective tissue diseases and acute pancreatitis secondary to checkpoint inhibitors or programmed cell death receptor antibody-mediated blockage cancer therapy may also benefit from steroid treatment. This review presents current concepts on these disorders, aiming to increase awareness, analyze similarities and differences, and propose a new nomenclature that reflects their specific particularities, clustering them under the term "steroid-responsive pancreatitides".

Early pancreatic cancer in IgG4-related pancreatic mass: A case report.

BACKGROUND: IgG4-related disease can manifest diversely, including autoimmune pancreatitis and IgG4-related cholangiopathy. We are reporting a very unusual cause of pancreatic cancer triggered in a previously unknown IgG4-related disease. CASE SUMMARY: A 75-year-old man was diagnosed with a 43 mm × 33 mm pancreatic head tumor after consulting for abdominal pain and jaundice. A pancreaticoduodenectomy was carried out uneventfully, and the histopathology report showed an early stage of acinar-cell pancreatic cancer. The patient reconsulted on the 30th postoperative day with fever, jaundice and asthenia. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography evidenced an extense bile duct stricture. A percutaneous biliary drainage proved to be ineffective, even after exchanging it with larger bore drainage. Reviewing the surgical specimen, features compatible with IgG4-related disease were observed. Consequently, empiric treatment with steroids was initiated achieving excellent results. CONCLUSION: IgG4-related disease may cause chronic inflammation of the pancreas and can condition pancreatic malignancies.

Manifestaciones gastrointestinales en Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico: un espectro diferente / Gastrointestinal manifestations in Lupus Erythematosus Systemic: a different spectrum

Presentamos el caso de escolar femenina, que debuta con colecistitis y pancreatitis aguda como manifestación inicial del lupus eritematoso sistémico. Consulta por ebre de origen por determinar e hiporexia. Por la persistencia de la fiebre, pérdida de peso y manifestaciones sistémicas se sospecha de una Enfermedad Autoinmune, con rmando el diagnóstico de LES con ANA y antiDNA positivos

We present the case of a school-aged female, who presents with acute cholecystitis and acute pancreatitis as the initial manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus. She consults with fever of unknown origin and hyporexia. Due to persistent fever, weight loss and systemic manifestations, Autoimmune Disease is suspected, confirming the diagnosis of SLE with positive ANA and anti-DNA with which the diagnosis of SLE was made

Enfermedad por IgG4 multisistémica: a propósito de un caso: revisión de la literatura / Multisystemic IgG4 disease: a case report: literature review

We report a 63-year-old male patient who consulted for a 4-month history of xerophthalmia, xerostomia and cervicalgia, associated with jaundice, choluria, low weight and night sweats. Exams show an obstructive pattern and abdominal ultrasound describes a possible mass in the pancreatic head with secondary dilation of the bile duct. Colangio-MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) confirms a focal pancreatic head lesion that determines intrapancreatic bile duct stenosis, proximal dilation of the bile duct and stenosis of the main pancreatic duct. Pancreatic neoplasia versus autoimmune pancreatitis (PAI) is proposed, complementing a study with a count of IgG subclasses where IgG4 stands out at 1050 mg/dl (normal range: 3.9-86) and computed tomography (CT) of the thorax, abdomen and pelvis, that in addition to the biliary-pancreatic alterations, shows thickening of the vesicular wall, multiple bilateral lesions in the renal parenchyma and peri-aortic soft tissue. Salivary gland biopsy reports lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate characteristic of IgG4 disease. A disease related to IgG4 (ER-IgG4) is diagnosed with pancreatic, renal, biliary, vascular, lymphatic, salivary and lacrimal glands involvement. It is treated with corticoidal therapy, evolving favorably with resolution of the symptomatology and regression of imaging alterations.

Se reporta caso de paciente de sexo masculino de 63 años que consulta por cuadro de 4 meses de xeroftalmia, xerostomía y cervicalgia, asociado a ictericia, coluria, baja de peso y sudoración nocturna. En exámenes destaca pruebas hepáticas con un patrón obstructivo y ecografía abdominal que muestra una posible masa en la cabeza pancreática con dilatación secundaria de la vía biliar. Colangio-resonancia (resonancia magnética-RM) confirma una lesión focal en la cabeza pancreática que determina estenosis del colédoco intrapancreático, dilatación proximal de la vía biliar y estenosis del conducto pancreático principal. Se plantea neoplasia de páncreas versus pancreatitis autoinmune (PAI), complementando estudio con recuento de subclases de IgG donde destaca IgG4 de 1.050 mg/dl (rango normal: 3,9-86) y tomografía computada (TC) de tórax, abdomen y pelvis, que además de las alteraciones bilio-pancreáticas, demuestra engrosamiento de la pared vesicular, lesiones múltiples bilaterales en el parénquima renal y tejido de partes blandas peri-aórtico. Biopsia de las glándulas salivales informa sialoadenitis crónica e inespecífica. Se diagnostica una enfermedad relacionada a IgG4 (ER-IgG4) con compromiso pancreático, renal, biliar, vascular, linfático, de glándulas salivales y lagrimales. Se trata con terapia corticoidal, evolucionando favorablemente con resolución de la sintomatología y regresión de las alteraciones imagenológicas.

Espectro clínico de la enfermedad relacionada con IgG4 en Colombia / Clinical spectrum of IgG4-related disease in Colombia

RESUMEN La enfermedad relacionada con IgG4 es una condición inflamatoria sistémica, caracterizada por la infiltración de diversos órganos por complejos formados por células plasmáticas IgG4 positivas, asociadas con niveles elevados de IgG4 en el suero. El diagnóstico de esta enfermedad es complejo y los hallazgos clínicos no son patognomónicos. En esta serie de casos, describimos un amplio espectro clínico en 4 pacientes, en quienes, después de descartar otros diagnósticos, se confirmó la enfermedad relacionada con IgG4. A pesar de que esta enfermedad no es común, se debe considerar entre los diagnósticos diferenciales de enfermedades con afectación de múltiples órganos. Este reporte de pacientes con enfermedad relacionada con IgG4, en Colombia, resalta un amplio espectro de presentaciones clínicas, incluyendo estenosis subglótica, pancreatitis autoinmune, fibrosis retroperitoneal y compromiso sistémico.

ABSTRACT IgG4-related disease is an inflammatory systemic condition noted by the infiltration of different organs by IgG4-bearing plasma cells, as well as elevated serum IgG4 levels. Diagnosis of this condition is complex, and clinical findings are not particularly indicative. In this case series, a description is presented on 4 patients with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, in whom, after ruling out different options, a diagnosis of IgG4 related disease was confirmed. Despite this disease not being common, it should be considered among the options whenever multiple organs are affected. This report of patients with IgG4-related disease in Colombia highlights a wide spectrum of clinical presentations, including subglottic stenosis, autoimmune pancreatitis, retroperitoneal fibrosis, and systemic compromise.

Severe hypoproteinemia as a harbinger of Ménétrier's disease in autoimmune pancreatitis / Hipoproteinemia grave como indicador de doença de Ménétrier na pancreatite autoimune

Summary Ménétrier's disease is an extremely rare disease of unknown etiology causing gastric mucosal hypertrophy and protein-losing gastropathy. Rare cases of this condition have been reported in patients with autoimmune diseases. However, to the best of our knowledge, Ménétrier's disease associated with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) has never been reported. We described a case of severe hypoproteinemia as a harbinger of Ménétrier's disease associated with AIP. The patient was successfully treated with octreotide and high-protein diet, which led to symptomatic remission and significant improvement in serum levels of albumin and recovery of the nutritional status. Thus, in AIP patients presenting with severe and persistent hypoproteinemia without apparent cause, clinicians need to consider Ménétrier's disease in the differential diagnosis. In this setting, endoscopic evaluation with histological examination of gastric biopsy material, including a full-thickness mucosal biopsy of involved mucosa, may be helpful in promptly establishing the diagnosis and allowing appropriate and timely therapy.

Resumo A doença de Ménétrier é uma condição extremamente rara, de etiologia desconhecida, caracterizada por hipertrofia da mucosa gástrica e gastropatia perdedora de proteína. Casos raros dessa patologia têm sido relatados em pacientes com doenças autoimunes. Até o momento, desconhecemos qualquer relato dessa doença associada à pancreatite autoimune (PAI). Descrevemos um caso de hipoproteinemia grave como indicador de doença de Ménétrier associada à PAI. O paciente foi tratado de forma satisfatória com octreotide e dieta hiperproteica, alcançando remissão sintomática, melhora significativa das concentrações de albumina e recuperação do estado nutricional. Portanto, em pacientes com PAI e hipoproteinemia grave e persistente, deve-se considerar a doença de Ménétrier como um diagnóstico diferencial. Nesses casos, a avaliação endoscópica com biópsia gástrica, incluindo biópsia de toda a espessura da mucosa, pode ser útil no estabelecimento do diagnóstico e do pronto início da terapêutica.

IgG4-related disease: A concise review of the current literature. / Enfermedad relacionada con IgG4: revisión concisa de la literatura.

IgG4-related disease is the term used to refer to a condition characterized by a lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, fibrosis and an increased number of IgG4+ cells present in tissue, in most cases, with an elevated serum IgG4 level. This disease frequently affects the pancreas, salivary glands and lymph nodes, but can involve almost any tissue. Its etiology and the exact role of the different inflammatory cells in the damage to the target organ is still unclear. As yet, there is no international consensus about diagnostic criteria for the disease, but there are important advances in its treatment and in the quest to achieve remission. We include a review of the history, possible pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostic approach and available therapeutic approaches.

Cystic Lesions in Autoimmune Pancreatitis.

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) can be chronic or recurrent, but frequently completely reversible after steroid treatment. A cystic lesion in AIP is a rare finding, and it can mimic a pancreatic cystic neoplasm. Difficulties in an exact diagnosis interfere with treatment, and surgery cannot be avoided in some cases. We report the history of a 63-year-old male presenting with jaundice and pruritus. AIP was confirmed by imaging and elevated IgG4 blood levels, and the patient completely recovered after corticosteroid therapy. One year later, he presented with a recurrent episode of AIP with elevated IgG4 levels, accompanied by the appearance of multiple intrapancreatic cystic lesions. All but 1 of these cysts disappeared after steroid treatment, but the remaining cyst in the pancreatic head was even somewhat larger 1 year later. Pancreatoduodenectomy was finally performed. Histology showed the wall of the cystic lesion to be fibrotic; the surrounding pancreatic tissue presented fibrosis, atrophy and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration by IgG4-positive cells, without malignant elements. Our case illustrates the rare possibility that cystic lesions can be part of AIP. These pseudocysts appear in the pancreatic segments involved in the autoimmune disease and can be a consequence of the local inflammation or related to ductal strictures. Steroid treatment should be initiated, after which these cysts can completely disappear with recovery from AIP. Surgical intervention may be necessary in some exceptional cases.

Can IgG4 Levels Identify the Ulcerative Colitis Subtype of Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

BACKGROUND: Pancreatitis and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency may occur as extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease. Recently, autoimmune pancreatitis and colitis have been described as presentations of IgG4-related disease. IgG4+ plasma cells have been identified in colon tissue from patients with refractory forms of inflammatory bowel disease. The presence of elevated serum/tissue levels of IgG4 and the frequency of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in inflammatory bowel disease are still a source of controversy. Our aim was to investigate the meaning of elevated IgG4 levels in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS: A cross-sectional study analyzed 56 patients with a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease recruited by convenience sampling from two tertiary centers in Midwestern Brazil. All patients underwent fecal pancreatic elastase testing for detection of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and serum IgG4 measurement. Findings were correlated with clinical and epidemiological data and disease activity. RESULTS: Elevated serum IgG4 levels were found in 10 patients, and were most frequent in ulcerative colitis (nine cases), with a prevalence ratio of 16.42 (95% CI: 3.32 - 79.58). Ten patients (10 of 56, 17.8%) were diagnosed with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, which did not correlate with disease activity, and serum IgG4 levels. CONCLUSION: Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is prevalent in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, but it is not associated with elevated serum IgG4 levels. The high prevalence of elevated serum IgG4 in ulcerative colitis suggests that this parameter has potential for use as a diagnostic biomarker.

Pancreatitis aguda en paciente con lupus eritematoso sistémico / Acute pancreatitis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

Se presenta caso de mujer joven portadora de lupus eritematoso sistémico que consulta por síntomas gastrointestinales y fiebre. Por laboratorio y tomografía abdominal se llega a diagnóstico de pancreatitis aguda que mejora con corticoides.

Report case of a young women carrier of systemic lupus erythematosus who comes to consult with gastrointestinal symptoms and fever. The diagnosis of Acute Pancreatitis is reached with laboratory exams and abdominal CT. Corticosteroids have afficacy for the treatment.

Autoimmune pancreatitis / Pancreatitis autoinmunitaria

We report the case of a 70-year-old male with chronic abdominal pain, who presented with increased intensity of the pain, and was initially diagnosed and treated for acute biliary pancreatitis. However, the symptoms persisted after hospital discharge, and he was subsequently studied with cholangio-MRI, abdominal CT scan, and ERCP, which revealed dilation of the biliary tract and a mass in the head of the pancreas. An excisional biopsy of the lesion showed chronic inflammation with severe sclerosing fibrosis and a lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate. A diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis was made, and the patient was initiated on azathioprine with good clinical response.

Presentamos el caso de un varón de 70 años con dolor abdominal crónico, que se presenta con aumento de este; se le diagnostica y se lo trata inicialmente como cuadro de pancreatitis biliar. A pesar del manejo inicial, los síntomas persisten después de la primera hospitalización, y se estudia con tomografía computarizada de abdomen, colangiorresonancia y colangiopancreatografía retrograda endoscópica, estudios en los cuales se detecta dilatación de la vía biliar y masa en la cabeza del páncreas. Se llevó a cabo biopsia excisional, que demuestra inflamación crónica con intensa fibrosis e infiltrado linfocitario. Se hace diagnóstico de pancreatitis autoimmunitaria y se inicia azatioprina, con adecuada respuesta.

Pancreatite autoimune / Autoimmune pancreatitis

Pancreatite autoimune é uma entidade caracterizada por processo inflamatório autoimune, no qual há proeminente infiltrado linfocitário associado à fibrose do pâncreas, com disfunção orgânica. Nas últimas quatro décadas, várias descrições morfológicas foram propostas para caracterizar a doença. Recentemente, o termo pancreatite autoimune se tornou largamente aceito, embora, aparentemente, a pancreatite autoimune seja uma doença heterogênea.

Autoimmune pancreatitis is a entity characterized by an autoimmune inflammatory process where there is an outstanding lymphocytic infiltrated associated with fibrosis of pancreas with organic dysfunction. The last four decades, many morphological descriptions have been proposed in order to characterized the disease. Recently, autoimmune pancreatitis term became widely accepted, however, autoimmune pancreatitis is a heterogeneous disease.

Pancreatitis autoinmune tipo 1: revisión a partir de un caso clínico / Autoimmune pancreatitis type 1: case report and review of the literature

Introduction: Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is one of the etiologies of chronic pancreatitis, which is classified in two subtypes: type 1 that is part of a fibroinflammatory systemic disease associated with IgG4; and type 2, confined to pancreatic tissue without IgG4 association. Both forms typically present as abdominal pain associated with obstructive jaundice. Radiologically it is characterized by diffuse or focal enlargement of the pancreas, becoming essential to differentiate from pancreatic cancer. Case report: We report the case of a 74 year-old patient who presented obstructive jaundice and abdominal pain, images with diffusely increased pancreatic volume and elevated serum IgG4. She was treated with prednisone with an excellent clinical and laboratory response. Conclusion: AIP is a disease with high clinical suspicion, well-established diagnostic criteria and standardized treatment, showing a high rate of response to treatment of first and second line. AIP pancreatitis diagnosis should be considered facing over patients with acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer.

Introducción: La pancreatitis autoinmune (PAI) es una causa de pancreatitis crónica que se clasifica en dos subtipos: la tipo 1, que es parte de una enfermedad fibroinflamatoria sistémica asociada a IgG4; y la tipo 2, limitada al tejido pancreático y sin asociación a IgG4. Ambas se presentan típicamente como un cuadro de dolor abdominal asociado a ictericia obstructiva. Imagenológicamente se caracteriza por aumento de volumen difuso o focal del páncreas, haciéndose indispensable hacer el diagnóstico diferencial con el cáncer de páncreas. Caso clínico: Presentamos el caso de una paciente de 74 años con ictericia obstructiva y dolor abdominal, imágenes con aumento difuso de volumen pancreático e IgG4 plasmática elevada. Se trata con prednisona con excelente respuesta clínica y de laboratorio. Conclusión: La PAI es un cuadro de alta sospecha clínica, con criterios diagnósticos bien establecidos y tratamiento estandarizado, presentando una alta tasa de respuesta a tratamiento de primera y segunda línea. El diagnóstico de PAI debe ser considerado al enfrentar un paciente con pancreatitis aguda, crónica o cáncer de páncreas.

Pancreatitis autoinmune: sospecha, diagnóstico diferencial y manejo / Autoimmune pancreatitis: suspicion, differential diagnosis and management

Autoimmune pancreatitis was described only in the second half of the last century. Two types of the disease have been identified: Type 1; Lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis (LPSP), and Type 2, idiopathic duct centric pancreatitis (IDCP). Type 1 AIP is characterized by IgG4 positive lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, storiform periductal fibrosis and obstructive venulitis. It is frequently associated with other autoimmune diseases, it forms part of a systemic IgG4 dependent autoimmune disease, with a tendency of recurrence or progressive pancreatic damage in about 30 percent of the cases. In Type 2, histology reveals ductal destruction by granulocytic epithelial lesions. This type is considered as a pancreas-specific disease, the only association observed is with inflammatory bowel disease. After a successful treatment, recurrence of this disease is an exception. The basis of the diagnosis of AIP is serology and imaging methods. Computed Tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance have a good sensibility in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic lesions. Endosonography (EUS) with fine-needle aspiration (FNA) would be the best method to exclude pancreatic cancer. However, its limited accessibility in Chile and high costs make its use rather exceptional. The treatment of AIP is steroids, 0.5-1 mg/kg/day Prednisone for a relatively short period, without the need of permanent treatment in most cases. While possibility of recurrence or progressive pancreatic damage exists, the prognosis is generally good.

La pancreatitis autoinmune es una enfermedad descrita en la segunda mitad del siglo pasado. Se diferencian dos tipos, la pancreatitis esclerosante linfoplasmocítica (PELP-Tipo 1) y la pancreatitis idiopática conducto-destructivo (PICD-Tipo 2). El Tipo 1 está caracterizado por infiltración linfoplasmocitaria por células IgG4 positivas, fibrosis periductal y venulitis obstructiva. Se asocia con otras enfermedades autoinmunes, probablemente forma parte de una enfermedad sistémica IgG4 dependiente, clínicamente tiene la tendencia de recaídas o progresión del daño pancreático en 30 por ciento de los casos. En el Tipo 2 se ve la destrucción de conductos por lesiones granulocíticas epiteliales, considerada como enfermedad específica del páncreas, se asocia sólo con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal. Después de su recuperación, la recaída es una excepción. El diagnóstico de la PAI se basa en métodos serológicos y morfológicos. Tomografía computada y resonancia nuclear magnética son de buen rendimiento en el diagnóstico diferencial de las enfermedades pancreáticas. Endosonografía con biopsia con aguja fina sería el mejor método para descartar cáncer de páncreas; su disponibilidad en Chile es más bien de excepción. El tratamiento es prednisona 0,5- 1,0 mg/kg/día por un período relativamente corto, sin necesidad de tratamiento de mantención en la gran mayoría de los casos. El pronóstico es bueno, aunque existe posibilidad de recaída o progresión hacia la cronicidad.

Doença sistêmica associada à IgG4, mimetizando colangiocarcinoma / Systemic disease associated Igg4 mimicking cholangiocarcinoma

A doença sistêmica associada à IgG4 pode acometer virtualmente todos os órgãos, o que torna seu diagnóstico diferencial bastante abrangente. A pancreatite autoimune foi a primeira lesão orgânica a ser associada à IgG4 e, apenas em 2003, manifestações extrapancreáticas foram descritas. Portanto, é uma enfermidade relativamente nova e pouco conhecida de modo que se torna importante estudá-la. A colangite esclerosante associada à IgG4 está comumente associada à pancreatite autoimune, embora também possa ocorrer isoladamente ou em associação à lesão pancreática leve. Assim, pode ser difícil diferenciá-la da colangite esclerosante primária ou do colangiocarcinoma, a depender do padrão e do local onde ocorrem as estenoses. O acometimento renal é frequente nesta doença, e ocorre por nefrite tubulointersticial, acompanhada de alterações típicas nos exames de imagem, que mostram áreas heterogêneas e hipointensas no parênquima renal/ fato que não acontece em nefrites de outras etiologias. Relatamos, a seguir, o caso de um paciente com estenose do hepatocolédoco médio e suspeita de colangiocarcinoma, que posteriormente demonstrou acometimento de parótidas, pancreático, e renal, além de biliar, com níveis séricos elevados de IgG4.

Systemic disease associated with IgG4 can affect virtually every organ, which makes her very comprehensive differential diagnosis. Autoimmune Pancreatitis was the first organic lesion to be associated with IgG4, and only in 2003, extra-pancreatic manifestations have been described. Therefore, it is a relatively new disease and poorly known, so that it becomes important to study it. The IgG4 associated sclerosing cholangitis is commonly associated with autoimmune pancreatitis, although it can also occur in isolation or in association with mild pancreatic injury. Thus, it can be difficult to distinguish it from primary sclerosing cholangitis or cholangiocarcinoma, depending on the pattern and where the strictures occur. The renal involvement is common in this disease, and tubulointerstitial nephritis occurs, accompanied by typical changes in imaging studies that show heterogeneous and hypointense areas in the renal parenchyma, which did not happen in nephritis from other causes. The following describes the case of one patient with bile duct stenosis and medium suspected cholangiocarcinoma, which subsequently showed involvement of the parotid glands, pancreas, and kidney, and bladder, with elevated serum levels of IgG4.