Histologic and immunohistochemical analysis of connective tissue changes in patients with intestinal sutures failure

Abstract

Objective. To determine the role of connective tissue pathology in the development of intestinal suture failure in order to improve the results of treatment of patients with this complication. Materials and methods. The study included 45 patients with intestinal suture failure who were treated at the Shalimov National Research Center for Surgery and Transplantation of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine in 2017–2023. Results. A comprehensive study of fragments of small and large intestine tissues revealed similar morphological changes in patients with phenotypic signs of undifferentiated connective tissue dysplasia and intestinal sutures failure. Immunohistochemical examination of tissues with monoclonal antibodies to α–smooth muscle actin in both groups of patients revealed uneven, focal expression in smooth muscle differentiation cells and fibroblasts; with monoclonal antibodies to type IV collagen – moderate positive expression in the basal membrane of blood vessels, in smooth muscle cells of the muscle layer of the vessel wall, in areas of connective tissue, which meant pathological remodeling of connective tissue. Conclusions. The similar results of histological and immunohistochemical studies in patients with signs of undifferentiated connective tissue dysplasia and intestinal sutures failure confirm the influence of connective tissue pathology on the development of this complication.