AUTHOR=Lu Yu-An , Lin Chieh-Chung , Huang Yen-Chu 

TITLE=Case Report: A 14-year-old boy with recurrent pancreatitis and autism—response to steroid and rituximab therapy

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1594539

DOI=10.3389/fped.2025.1594539

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=We report the case of a 14-year-old boy with a history of recurrent pancreatitis, autism, and learning disabilities who presented with non-bilious vomiting, epigastric pain, and a progressively enlarging abdominal mass. He was diagnosed with IgG4-related autoimmune pancreatitis. Initial corticosteroid therapy achieved only temporary remission, with disease relapse occurring after 4 months. Rituximab was subsequently introduced, resulting in sustained disease control by depleting B lymphocytes and reducing disease flares, consistent with previous reports. The patient has remained clinically stable for 1 year. This case highlights the clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, and therapeutic considerations of this rare condition.