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Updated: Apr 20, 2026
Gastrointestinal Motility Monitor GIMM
Published on: December 1, 2010
Colonic motility in ulcerative colitis
Gabrio Bassotti1, Elisabetta Antonelli2, Vincenzo Villanacci3
1Gastroenterology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Background:
Inflammatory conditions affecting the gut may cause motility disturbances, and ulcerative colitis - one of the main disorders among the inflammatory bowel diseases - may display abnormal colonic motility.
Aim:
To review the abnormalities of the large bowel in ulcerative colitis, by considering the motility, laboratory (in vitro) and pathological studies dealing with this topic.
Methods:
A comprehensive online search of Medline and the Science Citation Index was carried out.
Results:
Patients with ulcerative colitis frequently display colonic motor abnormalities, including lack of contractility, an increase of propulsive contractile waves, an excessive production of nitric oxide, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide nerves, interleukin 1 beta, neurotensin, tachykinins levels and the weaker action of substance P, likely related to a neuromuscular dysfunction due to the inflammatory process.
Conclusions:
A better understanding of the pathophysiological grounds of altered colonic motility in ulcerative colitis may lead to a more in-depth knowledge of the accompanying symptoms and to better and more targeted therapeutic approaches.
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