title: Ashkenazi Jews, sulfur gases, and ulcerative colitis.
abstract: Fecal pathogens have been suspected to cause ulcerative colitis, yet none have been identified. Meanwhile, the 400 species comprising normal colonic flora have received little attention as potential pathogens. Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), a frequent colonic commensal, have been identified in greater numbers in people with ulcerative colitis. The bacteria produce hydrogen sulfide, a toxic compound with the potential to cause colonic injury and possibly ulcerative colitis. If these bacteria are pathogenic, high-risk populations may harbor greater numbers of these organisms in their colons. We compared a group with a high incidence of ulcerative colitis, Ashkenazi Jews, to a control population to assess carriage rates for SRB. Breath samples were collected to indirectly determine colonic conditions. No difference was found between the two groups studied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Minneapolis VA Medical Center, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Furne
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Levitt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001944:Breath Tests; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000209:etiology*; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000032:analysis*; D007585:Jews; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D016999:Sulfur-Reducing Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D008697:Methane; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide