[Plasma levels of endogenous opioid peptides in patients with chronic colitis]

Abnormal content and proportion of leucin-and methionine-enkephalins and beta-endorphin were found in blood plasma of chronic colitis sufferers. Nonspecific ulcerative colitis was associated with relevant peptides deficiency varying with the disease gravity, whereas in catarrhal colitis the peptides concentration was significantly elevated. Endogenous opioid peptides seem to play a role in pathogenesis of various colitis forms.