[Local production of eicosanoids in patients with ulcerative colitis]

Eicosanoids act obviously as mediators of inflammation in ulcerative colitis. The objective of the submitted paper was to assess relations between intraluminal concentrations of prostaglandin E and leukotriene B4 and the activity of ulcerative colitis evaluated according to clinical, endoscopic and histological criteria.

In 56 patients with ulcerative colitis the PGE concentration was assessed in the rectal dialysate (3H Prostaglandin E Radioimmunoassay Kit Ca-501, Clinical Assay Cambridge USA). In 35 patients with ulcerative colitis the authors assessed the LTB4 concentration in the rectal dialysate (Leukotriene B4 3H Assay RPN 70, Amersham, G. Britain). The authors proved a statistically significant correlation between the intraluminal PGE concentration and the activity of ulcerative colitis according to clinical criteria (p < 0.1), endoscopic criteria (p < 0.05) and histological criteria (p < 0.01). The intraluminal LTB4 concentration correlated significantly with the activity of ulcerative colitis according to clinical criteria (p < 0.05). When comparing LTB4 values with the activity of the disease according to endoscopic and histological criteria, a tendency of rising LTB4 values with increasing activity of the disease is apparent. However, a significant relationship was not found; this can be explained by the fact that relatively small groups of patients were investigated with a relatively great scatter of LTB4 concentrations.

During the period of active ulcerative colitis the intraluminal PGE concentration rises and correlates with the clinical, endoscopic and histological activity. There is also a rise of the intraluminal LTB4 concentration which correlates with the clinical activity of the disease. A high eicosanoid concentration is found in cases with a severe course and complications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)