Evaluation of large intestinal mucosa regeneration in ulcerative colitis using linear measurements

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by three phases: active, regression and remission phase. The active phase is followed by atrophy of the large intestinal mucosa. Although its evaluation is sometimes difficult, quantification of ceratin mucosal parameters can be used as an accessory method. The aim of the study was to determine the parameters of linear micrometry in order to estimate the regeneration of the large intestinal mucosa in ulcerative colitis, and to evaluate the efficiacy of this method in everyday work. The measurements were performed on routine bioptic samples after qualitative histologic analysis and determination of the type and stage of the disease. The measurements were carried out to determine: the number of crypts per unit length, the height of crypt epithelium, diameter of crypts, their lumen and interstices; also, the quotient between the diameters of crypts and interstices was calculated. The analysis of the measured parameters points to presence and degree of regeneration and/or atrophy of mucosa, particularly by following the parameters of crypt epithelium. Linear measurements can be used in estimation of regeneration and atrophy of large intestinal mucosa.