Association of IgG4 response and autoimmune pancreatitis with intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms

Pancreatology. 2017 Mar-Apr;17(2):263-266. doi: 10.1016/j.pan.2017.02.004. Epub 2017 Feb 8.

Abstract

Objectives: Concurrent intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) and autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) was observed in a patient (index case) at our institution. Cases of coincidental IPMN and type 1 AIP and concurrent ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and AIP have been previously reported. In this study we evaluate the hypothesis that IPMN elicits an IgG4 response.

Methods: Twenty-one pancreases (including the index case) with IPMN resected at our institution were studied. H&E stained slides were reviewed and blocks of peritumoral pancreas were immunostained with IgG4 to look for IgG4-positive plasma cells.

Results: We found evidence of variable IgG4 overexpression in 4/21 (19%) of IPMN. These included the index case and three others without stigmata of AIP.

Conclusion: A small subset of pancreatic neoplasms including intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) is associated with an IgG4 autoimmune response that sometimes progresses to peritumoral type 1 AIP and less often to diffuse AIP and IgG4-related systemic disease.

Keywords: AIP; Autoimmune pancreatitis; IPMN; IgG4; Intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasm.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / complications
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / immunology
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / pathology*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / complications
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / complications
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pancreatitis / complications
  • Pancreatitis / immunology*
  • Pancreatitis / pathology

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin G