CAJ | 학술논문

AIM: To examine the histological and immunohistochemical findings of biopsy specimens taken from the major duodenal papilla of autoirnrnune pancreatitis (AIP)patients.METHODS: The major duodenal papilla in the resected pancreas of 3 patients with AIP and of 5 control patients [pancreatic carcinoma (n = 3) and chronic alcoholic pancreatitis (n = 2)] was irnrnunostained using anti-CD4-T cell, CD8-T cell and IgG4 antibodies. Forceps biopsy specimens taken from the major duodenal papilla of 2patients with AIP and 5 control patients with suspected papillitis were prospectively taken during duodenoscopy and immunohistochernically examined.RESULTS: Moderate or severe lyrnphoplasrnacytic infiltration including many CD4-positive or CD8-positive T lymphocytes and IgG4-positive plasma cells (≥10/HPF),was observed in the major duodenal papilla of all 3 patients with AIP. The same findings were also detected in the biopsy specimens taken from the major duodenal papilla of 2 patients with AIP, but in controls, there were only a few (≤3/HPF) IgG4-positive plasma cells infiltrating the major duodenal papilla.CONCLUSIONS: An abundant infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells is specifically detected in the major duodenal papilla of patients with AIP. Although this is a preliminary study, IgG4-irnmunostaining of biopsy specimens taken from the major duodenal papilla may support the diagnosis of AIP.