Autoimmune pancreatitis in young patients

Goals: To examine whether there is a difference in the autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) seen in young and elderly patients, Background: All? has a preponderance for elderly males, although the reason is unknown. Study: A total of 64 patients with All? were divided into young (<40 y old) group and a middle-aged or elderly group (>= 40 y old) according to the age at diagnosis. The clinical findings of each group were compared. Results: The young group consisted of 6 patients (3 men, 3 women) with a mean age of 33.0 (range, 28 to 37) years. In the middle-aged or elderly group, there were 58 patients with a mean age of 66.4 (range, 46 to 83) years; males predominated (79%). Abdominal pain as the presenting Symptom was significantly more frequent in the young group than in the middle-aged or elderly group (100% vs. 43%, P < 0.05). Obstructive jaundice was detected in only 17% (1/6) of patients in the young group compared with 59% (34/58) of patients in the middle-aged or elderly group. Serum amylase elevations were detected more frequently in the young group than in the middle-aged or elderly group (83% vs. 40%, P < 0.05). One young patient also had ulcerative colitis. Conclusions: Although rare in Japan, young patients with All? show different clinical features from middle-aged or elderly patients with AIP; young patients are more likely to have abdominal pain and serum amylase elevations.