Helicobacter pylori and autoimmune pancreatitis: role of carbonic anhydrase via molecular mimicry?

Autoimmune pancreatitis is a recently defined nosological entity, which accounts for 4.6-6% of all forms of chronic pancreatitis and is often associated with other autoimmune diseases, particularly Sjögren's syndrome. Possession of the HLA DRB1*0405-DQB1*0401 genotype confers a risk for the development of autoimmune pancreatitis. Autoantibodies against carbonic anhydrase II and lactoferrin are frequently present in affected subjects and are...