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.