Nesidioblastosis refers to pancreatic islet cell proliferation. This occurs during normal neonatal development. It can occur pathological in infants, causing hyperinsulinism and hypoglycemia.
Nesidioblastosis after Gastric Bypass
Following a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, hyperinsulinism and hypoglycemia may result from beta cell hyperproliferation, or nesidioblastosis. While this may be due to an unmasked, subclinical congenital hypoglycemia, there is some evidence that glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) may be implicated in the pathophysiology.
References
- Goldfine AB, Mun EC, Devine E, Bernier R, Baz-Hecht M, Jones DB, Schneider BE, Holst JJ, Patti ME.