Apoptosis in acute pancreatitis.

Background: Apoptosis may be involved in the mechanism of acinar cell injury in acute experimental pancreatitis.

Aim: This study was to investigate whether apoptosis also is involved in human acute pancreatitis.

Method: A needle biopsy pancreatic specimen was obtained from a patient with acute oedematous pancreatitis. The specimen was stained with In Situ Cell Death Detection Kit. Similar specimen from a patient undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy for bile duct cancer served as a control.

Results: Extended acinar cell apoptosis was found in the pancreatitis specimen. No single apoptotic cell was found in the control pancreas.

Conclusion: Apoptosis probably is involved not only in acute experimental pancreatitis but also in human acute oedematous pancreatitis. The induction and role of apoptosis in pancreatis is discussed based on literature.