Factors predictive of relapse and spontaneous remission of autoimmune pancreatitis patients treated/not treated with corticosteroids

Background Relapse and spontaneous remission (SR) are characteristic features of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). Aim and methods We conducted a study to determine if the predictive factors might be potentially related to the relapse in 70 consecutive AIP patients. Regarding SR, we studied the data of patients without corticosteroid treatment (CST). Results CST was administered to 60% (42/70) of the patients; however, relapse was noted in 45.2% (19/42) of these patients. In 95% (18/19) of the AIP patients developing relapse, the relapse occurred within 3 years. The relapse rate was 80% (12/15) in the AIP patients administered CST for less than 12 months and 25.9% (7/27) in those administered CST for over 12 months ( p