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The endocrine pancreas in nonimmune hydrops fetalis
F A Van Assche1, L Aerts, K Holemans
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Leuven, Belgium.
Objective:
Our purpose was to compare the endocrine pancreas of hydropic infants of immune and nonimmune origin.
Study Design:
A quantitative morphologic study was performed on the pancreas in 10 infants with immune and nonimmune hydrops. The volume density of the endocrine pancreas in the gland was calculated, as was the numerical density of the endocrine cells in the islets. The percentage of the different cell types was measured on immunohistochemical stained slides. Ten normal infants were used as controls.
Results:
An increased amount of endocrine tissue and an increased total number of islet cells of immune and nonimmune origin is present in hydropic infants. However, an increased proportion of the insulin-producing B cells is not present.
Conclusions:
The endocrine pancreas in hydrops fetalis of immune and nonimmune origin is equal, excluding hemolysis as the stimulating factor for equilibrated islet overgrowth. Metabolic stimuli, as seen in infants of diabetic mothers, are probably not involved, because they preferentially stimulate the insulin-producing B cells.