Autoimmune pancreatitis in a nutshell is a chronic inflammation that occurs when the body's immune system attacks the pancreas. Two subtypes of autoimmune pancreatitis of type 1 and type 2 are recognized from this disease. 

1. Type 1: is the pancreatic manifestation where it affects various organs, such as the pancreas, the bile ducts in the liver, the salivary glands, the kidneys and the lymph nodes.
2. Type 2: In this case it affects only the pancreas, although in some type 2 people have inflammatory bowel disease.

A curious thing is that type 1 can be mistakenly diagnosed as pancreatic cancer, since both conditions have similar signs and symptoms, but treatment is different, so it is important to distinguish them in time to avoid major ailments.

Symptoms

Autoimmune pancreatitis as mentioned above is difficult to diagnose. So the symptoms and signs of type 1 are similar to those of pancreatic cancer.

They are the following:

• Dark urine

• Pale stools or stools that float in the toilet

• Yellow skin and eyes

• Pain in the upper abdomen or middle of the back

• Nausea and vomiting

• Extreme weakness or tiredness

• Loss of appetite or feeling full

• Weight loss due to unknown cause

Causes

Doctors do not know why autoimmune pancreatitis, but such is said and similar to other diseases of this nature is that it is thought to be caused by the body's immune system that attacks healthy tissues.

Risk factors

People who have autoimmune pancreatitis of type 1 often have these characteristics:

• Are over 60 years old.

• They are male.

People who have autoimmune pancreatitis of type 2:

• They are commonly older than 40 years (20 years younger than people with type 1).

• Both women and men suffer from it.

• Are more likely to have inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis

Complications

Some complications:

• Diabetes. Because the pancreas is the organ that produces insulin, the damage can lead to diabetes and insulin treatment may be needed

• Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. P may affect the pancreas's ability to produce enough enzymes. Consequently understand diarrhea, weight loss, metabolic bone diseases and vitamin or mineral deficiency.

Treatments for such immune disease, is the long-term use of steroids, although this can cause complications. However, despite the complications, people who are treated for autoimmune pancreatitis have a normal life expectancy.

Information base: https://medlineplus.gov/