Case Report
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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 7, 2012; 18(41): 5990-5993
Published online Nov 7, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i41.5990
Newly developed autoimmune cholangitis without relapse of autoimmune pancreatitis after discontinuing prednisolone
Ji Hun Kim, Jae Hyuck Chang, Sung Min Nam, Mi Jeong Lee, Il Ho Maeng, Jin Young Park, Yun Sun Im, Tae Ho Kim, Chang Whan Kim, Sok Won Han
Ji Hun Kim, Jae Hyuck Chang, Sung Min Nam, Mi Jeong Lee, Il Ho Maeng, Jin Young Park, Yun Sun Im, Tae Ho Kim, Chang Whan Kim, Sok Won Han, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, South Korea
Author contributions: Kim JH and Chang JH made substantial contributions in reviewing the case and compiling the data; Kim JH drafted the manuscript; Nam SM, Lee MJ, Park JY, Maeng IH, Im YS, Kim TH, Kim CW and Han SW contributed to the discussion and reviewed the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Jae Hyuck Chang, MD, PhD, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 327 Sosa-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 420-717, Seoul 137-701, South Korea. wwjjaang@catholic.ac.kr
Telephone: +82-32-3402227 Fax: +82-32-3402255
Received: July 12, 2012
Revised: September 3, 2012
Accepted: September 12, 2012
Published online: November 7, 2012
Abstract

A 57-year-old man presented with a 2-wk history of painless jaundice and weight loss. He had a large ill-defined enhancing mass-like lesion in the uncinate process of the pancreas with stricture of the distal common bile duct. Aspiration cytology of the pancreatic mass demonstrated inflammatory cells without evidence of malignancy. Total serum immunoglobulin G level was slightly elevated, but IgG4 level was normal. After the 2-wk 40 mg prednisolone trial, the patient’s symptoms and bilirubin level improved significantly. A follow-up computed tomography (CT) scan showed a dramatic resolution of the pancreatic lesion. A low dose steroid was continued. After six months he self-discontinued prednisolone for 3 wk, and was presented with jaundice again. A CT scan showed newly developed intrahepatic biliary dilatation and marked concentric wall thickening of the common hepatic duct and the proximal common bile duct without pancreatic aggravation. The patient’s IgG4 level was elevated to 2.51 g/L. Prednisolone was started again, after which his serum bilirubin level became normal and the thickening of the bile duct was resolved. This case suggests that autoimmune pancreatitis can progress to other organs that are not involved at the initial diagnosis, even with sustained pancreatic remission.

Keywords: Autoimmune disease; Pancreatitis; Cholangitis; Prednisolone