Serum immunoglobulins in calcific pancreatitis

Abstract

SUMMARY Serum immunoglobulin concentrations were measured in 40 patients with calcific pancreatitis. A significant elevation of the mean serum IgA and IgG concentration when compared with a control group was found. The IgA was raised in 50 % and the IgG in 27.5 % when the individual results were assessed. The IgA did not appear to be of the secretory type.The possible significance of the raised IgA and IgG is discussed with reference to local pancreatic IgA production, autoimmune factors in chronic pancreatitis, and the ductal protein plugs in this disease.

Secretory immunoglobulin A in pancreatic juice and pancreatic tissue of patients with chronic pancreatitis

“…S-IgA is therefore more suitable than other immunoglobulins to protect pancreatic tissue against a variety of viral and bacterial mucosal pathogens. Numerous studies in animal models and in humans have provided evidence that this protection against microorganisms is generally correlated with levels of IgA antibodies in secretions 26. Chronic pancreatitis is characterised by perilobular and interlobular fibrosis, altered composition of pancreatic secretions, and protein plugs in the ductules.…”

Ultrasonographic evaluation in patients with autoimmune-related pancreatitis

“…1 A proportion of cases labeled "idiopathic" probably represent autoimmune-mediated disease. [2][3][4] Sarles et al 5,6 first reported cases of pancreatitis associated with hypergammaglobulinemia. The concept of autoimmune-related pancreatitis (AIP) was originally proposed by Yoshida et al 7 and reviewed by Okazaki et al 8 and Okazaki and Chiba; 9 and the following characteristics have been described: [7][8][9][10][11][12][13] (1) diffuse enlargement of the pancreas and irregular narrowing of the main pancreatic duct (MPD); (2) increased levels of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and the presence of some autoantibodies; (3) asymptomatic or minimal symptoms, such as epigastralgia or back pain, compared to ordinary alcoholic chronic pancreatitis; (4) histologically, fibrotic changes with lymphocyte infiltration around the pancreatic ducts; and (5) good response to steroid therapy.…”

Autoimmune pancreatitis — a surgical disease?

“…Eine Hyper gam mag lo bu linämie wird in der Li te ratur in 37-76 be schrie ben (. Ta bel le 4), wo bei auch bei der al ko ho li schen Pank re ati tis ein An stieg des Se rum-IgGs be ob achtet wur de [2]. We sent lich spe zi fi scher für die AIP scheint eine Er hö hung der Im mun globu lin-Sub klas se IgG4 zu sein.…”

“…Wäh-rend Kim et al nur in 9/17 Fäl len er höh-te IgG-Wer te auf zei gen konn ten, ge lang uns der Nach weis nur in ei nem Fall. Darü ber hi naus fin den sich er höh te Se rumim munglo bu li ne auch zu ei nem ge wissen Pro zent satz bei Pa ti en ten mit al ko ho lischer chro ni scher Pank re a ti tis [2].…”