Nerven-Veränderungen bei der chronischen Pankreatitis sind unabhängig von der zugrunde liegenden Ätiologie

Abstract

Nerve alterations and neuroimmune interactions have been suggested to participate in the generation of pain. In this study, we compared neural changes and the pattern of perineural inflammatory cell infiltrates in three different etiological forms (alcoholic, idiopathic, tropical) of chronic pancreatitis (CP).Pancreatic tissues of 35 patients with different etiologies of CP and 10 normal pancreas were included. Neural changes and perineural inflammatory cell infiltrates were analyzed.In comparison to the normal controls the median number of nerves per 10 mm2 tissue area was significantly higher in alcoholic CP and idiopathic CP but not in tropical CP. The median area of neural tissue per 10 mm2 was significantly increased in all three CP groups compared to normal controls. The median nerve diameter was also significantly increased in alcoholic, idiopathic and tropical CP. Neural changes were not different between alcoholic, idiopathic and tropical CP. No differences in perineural inflammation were observed among the three CP groups.Independent of the underlying etiology, chronic pancreatitis is associated with an increase in neural tissue, and neural alterations occur in a similar fashion irrespective of the type of initiating event.