Autoimmune Pancreatitis
Evidence: Immune-mediated
Names
Autoimmune pancreatitis
Lymphoplasmocytic sclerosing pancreatitis
Nonalcoholic destructive pancreatitis
Tumefactive pancreatitis
Description
Autoimmune pancreatitis is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammation of the pancreas that may be acute or chronic. It is thought to be caused by the body’s immune system attacking healthy cells of the pancreas. There are two subtypes of AIP, known as type 1 and type 2. Type 1 is the most common and it affects the pancreas, along with other organs, such as the liver, salivary glands, kidneys, lymph nodes, and gallbladder. Type 2 seems to only affect the pancreas but is associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Symptomatic patients often experience yellowing of the eyes (jaundice) and weight loss, but many patients are asymptomatic. Autoimmune pancreatitis is a non-cancerous condition, but it is often mistaken for pancreatic cancer due to similar signs and symptoms. There is no cure, but the condition is well-managed with treatment.
Patient Groups
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Prevalence
US Cases: 14,000 [Cai 2017]
Typical Age of onset
40-60
Symptoms
Often does not cause any symptoms but when it does, the symptoms are similar to pancreatic cancer.
Fatigue
Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice)
Pain in upper abdomen
Back pain
Diarrhea
Pale/loose/fatty stools that do not flush easily
Nausea and vomiting
Shortness of breath
Unexplained weight loss
Excessive thirst
