This study looked at a disease called IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), which is a condition where the immune system attacks various organs, leading to inflammation and damage. One of the most common places this happens is in the pancreas, which is known as autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). However, there’s not a lot of data on how AIP affects the pancreas and the body overall in people with IgG4-RD.
The researchers reviewed the medical records of 305 patients with IgG4-RD, focusing on those who had pancreatic involvement (120 patients). They compared these patients to those without pancreatic involvement. They found that patients with AIP were generally older and more likely to be male. These patients also had more organs affected by the disease and had higher levels of IgG4, a type of antibody linked to the disease.
In patients with AIP, common symptoms included weight loss, stomach pain, diarrhea, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). Some had elevated levels of an enzyme called lipase, and others had masses in their pancreas that could be mistaken for cancer.
The study found that pancreatic damage was very common in these patients. Nearly half of them developed diabetes, and over half had issues with the pancreas not producing enough digestive enzymes (a condition known as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency). Many also showed signs of significant pancreatic damage, like atrophy (shrinking) of the pancreas. Some patients even needed part of their pancreas removed as part of their diagnosis.
The conclusion of the study emphasizes that patients with AIP in IgG4-RD tend to have more severe disease and are at high risk of pancreatic damage. The researchers highlight the importance of recognizing and treating this disease early to prevent serious complications.