No abstract

When prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) are fed a diet containing cholesterol, a marked increase in gallbladder mucin secretion parallels the evolution of cholesterol supersaturated bile. Gelation of mucin precedes the precipitation of cholesterol liquid and solid crystals and the development of gallstones. Aspirin given to prairie dogs inhibited mucin hypersecretion and gel accumulation and prevented gallstone formation without influencing the cholesterol content of supersaturated bile. This suggests that gallbladder mucin is a nucleation matrix for cholesterol gallstones.

Summary:recognize the symptoms of pancreatitis in this population. However, marrow transplant patients may be predisposed to developing pancreatitis due to the high prevalence of Pancreatitis has been described as an infrequent complication of marrow transplantation. This study investibiliary sludge and sonographic biliary tract abnormalities, 2,3use of irradiation and cytotoxic drugs in the conditioning gated the prevalence of pancreatitis at autopsy in marrow transplant patients and determined risk factors for regimen, and treatment with medications that have been associated with pancreatitis such as corticosteroids and its development. We reviewed consecutive autopsy reports from 1991 to 1993. Medical records and laboracyclosporine. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Infectious etiologies of pancreatitis are also possible because of the profound immunosuppression tory reports were reviewed for analysis of clinical variables. Autopsy findings and clinical variables were corthat develops after transplant. There are reports in marrow transplant patients of disseminated cytomegalovirus, related with the autopsy diagnosis of pancreatitis. Pancreatitis was found in 51 of 184 (28%) patients at adenovirus, and varicella zoster virus infections involving the pancreas and mimicking attacks of idiopathic autopsy. Of those with pancreatitis, 35% had abdominal pain, 10% had measurements of serum pancreatic pancreatitis. 13-16To estimate the prevalence of pancreatitis at autopsy in enzymes, and 20% had abdominal imaging studies in the week prior to death. By univariable analysis, risk marrow transplant patients, we reviewed the histologic and gross findings from all patients autopsied at our center factors associated with development of pancreatitis included clinical grades 3 and 4 GVHD, GVHD at autobetween January 1991 and December 1993. Clinical, radiologic, and laboratory data were also reviewed to analyze psy, liver GVHD at autopsy, major infection at autopsy, and increasing days of survival. By multivariable analythe frequency of pre-mortem signs and symptoms in patients with pancreatitis. Gallbladder contents were sis, independent risk factors for its development included any GVHD at autopsy, increasing length of obtained at autopsy and analyzed chemically and microscopically for the presence of sludge, as previously survival after transplantation, and major infection at autopsy. We conclude that pancreatitis is a common but described. 17 To determine risk factors for its development, the frequency of clinical and therapeutic parameters in often subclinical complication of marrow transplantation. Its development may be associated with a high patients with pancreatitis was compared to those in patients without pancreatitis. prevalence of biliary sludge and prolonged treatment of GVHD with cyclosporine and prednisone.