Morphological studies of graft pancreatitis following pancreas transplantation.

Morphological findings in the initial stages of graft pancreatitis were studied systematically in sequential biopsies of 16 human pancreatic allografts. In 14 patients clinical and morphological signs of graft pancreatitis developed in the early postoperative period. In all cases disturbances in the integrity of structures within acinar cells occurred during ischaemia. In ten cases activation of autophagocytosis occurred following reperfusion, with acceleration of cellular metabolism. After reperfusion a marked leucocyte reaction occurred with a later single acinar cell necrosis in six cases. At the same time, high serum pancreatic enzyme concentrations were observed in all patients following transplantation. Exocrine secretion from the allografts via the pancreatic duct was reduced, correlating with the severity of graft pancreatitis. Studies in this clinical situation might complement analyses of the cascade of morphological and pathophysiological reactions during the early stages of other types of acute pancreatitis.