Distributional and functional alterations of immunocompetent peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with chronic pancreatitis

Objective To investigate whether the chronic inflammatory process in patien ts with chronic pancreatitis affects their immune function. Summary Background Data Chronic pancreatitis is a chronic inflammatory dise ase of the exocrine pancreas. In approximately 30% of patients, an inflamma tory mass of the pancreatic head is found, representing an indication for s urgery. Methods This study comprised 28 patients with chronic pancreatitis. Sixteen patients were also reevaluated 1 year after resection of the pancr eatic head for chronic pancreatitis. Results Compared with an age- and gender-matched control group, the number of CD3(+) cells was significantly increased in patients with chronic pancre atitis, with an increase of both CD3(+)CD4(+) and CD3(+)CD8(+) cells. The n umber of natural killer cells or B lymphocytes did not differ between the p atients and the control group. After stimulation with phytohemagglutinin or anti-CDS antibodies, the blastogenic response was significantly attenuated in the patients with chronic pancreatitis. One year after resection of the pancreatic head for chronic pancreatitis, the distribution and the blastog enic response to phytohemagglutinin and anti-CD3 antibodies had returned to normal compared with preoperative values. Conclusion The chronic inflammatory process in chronic pancreatitis markedl y affects the distribution and function of peripheral immunocompetent blood cells, and elimination of the chronic inflammatory focus by pancreatic hea d resection restores the suppressed immune function in these patients.