Autoantibodies in Autoimmune Pancreatitis. (12th July 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Smyk, Daniel S.; Rigopoulou, Eirini I.; Koutsoumpas, Andreas L.; Kriese, Stephen; Burroughs, Andrew K.; Bogdanos, Dimitrios P.
• Other Names: Okazaki Kazuichi Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: International journal of rheumatology. Volume 2012(2012)
• Publication Date: 2012-07-12
• Subjects: Rheumatology -- Periodicals; Rheumatology; Rheumatology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; 616.723
• DOI: 10.1155/2012/940831
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1687-9260

Abstract

Abstract : Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) was first used to describe cases of pancreatitis with narrowing of the pancreatic duct, enlargement of the pancreas, hyper- γ -globulinaemia, and antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity serologically. The main differential diagnosis, is pancreatic cancer, which can be ruled out through radiological, serological, and histological investigations. The targets of ANA in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis do not appear to be similar to those found in other rheumatological diseases, as dsDNA, SS-A, and SS-B are not frequently recognized by AIP-related ANA. Other disease-specific autoantibodies, such as, antimitochondrial, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies or diabetes-specific autoantibodies are virtually absent. Further studies have focused on the identification of pancreas-specific autoantigens and reported significant reactivity to lactoferrin, carbonic anhydrase, pancreas secretory trypsin inhibitor, amylase-alpha, heat-shock protein, and plasminogen-binding protein. This paper discusses the findings of these investigations and their relevance to the diagnosis, management, and pathogenesis of autoimmune pancreatitis.