Inflammatory bowel disease and autoimmune pancreatitis

Autoimmune pancreatitis is a subtype of chronic pancreatitis. Currently, type 1 is known (LPSP – lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis), which is classified among the clinical forms of a group of diseases designated as IgG4-related disease. This form occurs in younger individuals and IgG4 levels are normal with a few exceptions. This type is accompanied in 20–30% via findings of inflammatory bowel diseases, mainly ulcerative colitis. Type 3 autoimmune pancreatitis has been described, but it is still debated. The number of persons with inflammatory bowel diseases and the finding of type 2 autoimmune pancreatitis is highest in persons with ulcerative colitis – up to 2/3 of all patients. In the Mayo Clinic study, 19 persons with inflammatory bowel disease were found in a group of 43 patients with type 2 AIP; similarly, a Japanese study found AIP in 11 cases in a group of 52 patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Other studies have shown similar results. Inflammatory bowel disease with autoimmune pancreatitis is diagnosed in 20% of cases and steroid therapy is usually successful.