[Plasma motilin and diarrhea in ulcerative colitis]

Motilin basal level and that after carbohydrate load were radioimmunoassayed in 26 patients with ulcerative colitis. The results were correlated with the data on motor evacuatory activity of the gastrointestinal tract and clinical manifestations of diarrhea. Basal motilin level was found elevated as against the control (99 rg/ml) in all the patients and surpassed the norm (356-1001 rg/ml) in 6. A significant elevation of motilin content was associated with reduction of the amplitude and number of rhythmic type I contractions, as well as by increased number of type III (propulsive) waves and accelerated transport of the contents via the small intestine. No compensatory rarefying of acid discharge from the stomach, that was observed in reference subjects if transport of contents was accelerated, was detectable in the patients with ulcerative colitis. This resulted in acidification of the enteral medium (pH 5.6 +/- 0.6). Concomitant pancreatitis in 22 patients with reduced production of HCO3- and impaired cavitary hydrolysis of polymer substrate enhanced enteral medium acidification and changed its osmotic pressure. Specific features of enteral medium homeostasis disorders and of impairments of the gastrointestinal tract motor evacuatory function should be borne in mind when planning treatment strategy for diarrhea patients.