Measurement of rectal blood flow by laser Doppler flowmetry in inflammatory bowel disease.
OBJECTIVE
Vascular alterations have been suggested as pathogenic factors in inflammatory bowel disease, particularly Crohn's disease. The aim of our study was to assess rectal blood flow in patients with active inflammatory bowel disease involving the rectum.


METHODS
Endoscopic measurement of rectal blood flow was performed by laser Doppler flowmetry in 45 subjects divided into three groups: healthy controls, ulcerative colitis and rectal Crohn's disease.


RESULTS
Rectal perfusion was found to be significantly impaired in patients with ulcerative colitis, but not in those with Crohn's colitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results confirm the role of local ischemia in ulcerative colitis, but do not support the theory that vascular factors play a key role in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease.
Guslandi
M
M
Gastroenterology Unit, S. Raffaele Hospital, University of Milan, Italy.
Sorghi
S
S
Polli
D
D
Tittobello
A
A
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012007:Rectum / Q000098:blood supply*