Autoimmune pancreatitis: Unveiling a hidden entity

Hypothesis: After alcohol-induced and hereditary disease, idiopathic chronic pancreatitis is the most common cause of calcifying pancreatitis. This designation is used when no associated cause of chronic pancreatitis is found. We present 6 cases of idiopathic pancreatitis in which the postoperative pathological examination results demonstrated lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis or autoimmune pancreatitis. Design: Retrospective case series. The medical records of 6 patients referred and treated for autoimmune pancreatitis were reviewed. The duration of follow-up varies, the longest being 5 years. The disease and a literature review are reported. Setting: A 200-bed community hospital located in a large city. The patients were referred after being treated elsewhere for recurrent pancreatitis. Patients and Methods: Six patients with chronic recurrent pancreatitis were evaluated. They were selected because pathological review indicated that they all had autoimmune pancreatitis. Results: Six cases of lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis are presented and suggest that lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis should be thought of more often in chronic autoimmune pancreatitis. Conclusion: Lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis is an increasingly recognized cause of chronic pancreatitis and should be considered in the evaluation of patients with chronic pancreatitis and no discernible cause.