Rectal blood flow in ulcerative colitis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the state of local blood flow in ulcerative colitis.


METHODS
Rectal blood flow was measured by means of laser Doppler flowmetry during endoscopy in 20 patients with active or inactive ulcerative colitis and in 20 healthy controls.


RESULTS
A significant (p < 0.01) reduction in the values of rectal perfusion was observed in ulcerative colitis patients both in active phase and in clinical and endoscopic remission.


CONCLUSIONS
Impaired local blood flow may have a pathogenetic role in ulcerative colitis. Remission of the disease is not accompanied by normalization of local microcirculation, which may predispose to relapses.
Guslandi
M
M
Gastroenterology Unit, S. Raffaele Hospital, University of Milan, Italy.
Polli
D
D
Sorghi
M
M
Tittobello
A
A
D000328:Adult; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D012007:Rectum / Q000098:blood supply*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow