Retrospective histopathology of endocrine pancreas in bronchial asthma.

A retrospective histopathological, immunocytochemical and morphometric study was done on samples of pancreas of 16 asthmatic dead humans in comparison with 6 dead control subjects, by other causes not related with allergic or endocrine diseases. A ribbon-like type of islet was the only histological feature found with the exception of one case of chronic pancreatitis. A significative increase of insulin islets (p < 0.05) was observed in the asthmatics patients while no differences in calculated area, perimeter and diameter of pancreatic islets were recorded. A probable hyperplasia of beta-cells could be related to the onset of the asthmatic crisis based on the pro-inflammatory stimulation of insulin or the action of anti-asthmatic treatments in the acute attack.